The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 10, Milford, Kosciusko County, 26 March 1980 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., March 26,1980

4

Editorials

National Nutrition Day It’s National Nutrition Day and we pause to salute the workers who participated in the REAL Services work at the Syracuse Scout Cabin. The Syracuse site is the oldest one in the county. Some 30 meals are served each day through the REAL program at Syracsue. These are for the benefit of those persons over 60 years of age. A bus, provided free of charge, is used to transport persons to the center. It allows those who are not able to drive to benefit from the meals and the activities of the center. Norma Roose serves as county coordinator, Naomi McFarland is in charge of planning activities at the center and Jwanetta Wooten serves as the driver. The menus used are planned for nutrition with the senior citizen in mind. Today, for example, the menu includes vegetable cocktail juice, liver and onions with gravy, oven baked potatoes, cole slaw, white bread, margarine, cinnamon applesauce, milk, tea and coffee. Congratulations Tracy Marsha Carpenter’s buttons are popping again and well they should be as Tracy Rinker, a pretty Wawasee High School Senior, walked off with top honors, at the state gymnastics meet Saturday. It was the second state crown for Tracy. Our congratulations go to Tracy for this accomplishment. She won first places in the floor exercises, balance beam and uneven bars as well as the allaround championship. In; doing this, Tracy became the first girl in the history of the state gymnastics competition to win the all-around honor twice. She won it as a freshman. The WHS senior had scores of 9.6 in floor exercises, 8.9 on the balance beam, and 9.55 on uneven bars for an all-around total of 36.75. We join the Wawasee staff and the WHS student body in offering congratulations to Tracy. ; The thunderstorm The thunderstorm season is approaching. Statistics show these storms contain highly destructive winds which usually do not touch the ground plus the heavy electrical charges which do strike the ground and which claim many lives each year. /' Summer weather is generally thought to be non dangerous and many assume thunderstorms are mostly noise and fury and without danger. However, lightning from thunderstorms in late spring and early summer kills more people than does lightning at all other times of the year combined. There are certain rules one should follow if caught in a thunderstorm, according to the Weather Bureau. If indoors, one should stay indoors and avoid electrical equipment, the telephone and plumbing fixtures. If outdoors, one should stop work on metal fences, leave tractors, especially those pulling metal implements, stay away from the tallest trees, poles and solitary fixtures and seek shelter in low areas away from water or in buildings. There is a last, grim word of advice. Sometimes ohe can actually feel the first electrical charge of approaching lightning, we are told. The hair stands on end or the skin tingles. If you feel one of these danger signs, the Weather Bureau says, drop to the ground immediately. If you don’t you may drop a few seconds later in more serious condition, for this is an omen of a nearby, massive electrical charge. a Fewer credit cards? The Federal Reserve Board, asked by President Carter to curb credit, is preparing to restrain credit card buying by various methods. Our plastic economy has mushroomed rapidly in recent years and this is a prudent move. In 1971, for example, credit card loans in the U. S. totaled less than sls billion. Today they total over SSO billion. Total consumer credit, of course, is much higher, and includes car and home loans, etc. Because a recession is now widely predicted, restraint in credit buying is now a wise course. It will ease the upward pressure of inflation by reducing demand. And it will avoid foreclosure or financial collapse for some — up to their ears in plastic debt.

What others say — Ford Motor's acquittal Even if the prosecution had done a better job of presenting its case, the jury in Winimac, Ind., would have been right in finding the Ford Motor Company innocent of reckless homocide. The unprecedented criminal case resulted from the death of three young women in 1978 when their Ford Pinto was struck from behind, the fuel tank reptured, and the car burst into flames. The charge was that Ford knowingly built a dangerous car: that the company was aware of a problem with respect to the design of the Pinto fuel tank and that it decided the danger did not warrant the high cost of redesigning the car. \ ■ I ■. J The prosecution seemed based on the notion that to permit any potential danger to life in a product is culpable, no matter what the cost of eliminating it. This just doesn’t make sense. Every day, governments and manufacturers and individuals make decisions that mean balancing the risk of injury or death against the cost and inconvenience of avoiding it. If every automobile had to be guaranteed against fatalities, the country would revert to the horse and buggy age (and people have been killed on horses and buggies, too). We’re not defending Ford’s behavior throughout the case; it is hardly one to be proud of. But it has already paid heavily for whatever bad judgment might have been involved. It has cost many more millions of dollars recalling Pintos, repairing them, defending itself in court, and in unfavorable publicity than it would have cost to redesign the car in the first place. This is a lesson that won’t be lost on Ford or any other manufacturer. To have held the company criminally liable as well would have set an impossible precedent for industry. Any accident resulting form even a trivial risk that a manufacturer knew or ought to have known existed could easily put him out of business, even if the decision involved was made by responsible men acting in good faith. Unscrupulous lawyers would have a field day, knowing that if a company resisted their demands for extortionate civil damages, the company might find itself facing a criminal charge. By comparison, the recent epidemic of malpractice suits against doctors would look like penny ante. And the cost of all this, of course, would come out of the consumers’ pockets. Fortunately we have been spared from that dismal prospect. — Chicago Tribune

On vehicle inspection

Although the Indiana Legislature recently repealed the vehicle inspection law, Carroll County Prosecutor has issued a statement concerning the Indiana Motor Vehicle Code, which provides: . “No person shall drive or move on any highway any motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or pull trailer or any combination thereof unless the equipment upon any and every vehicle is in such safe mechanical condition, as not to endanger the driver or other occupant or any person upon the highways. The prosecutor points out that the repeal is not a license to drive a vehicle which is unsafe on the highway. He suggests that drivers obey the law and provide safety for themselves, passengers in their vehicles and others using the highways. You should continue to drive a vehicle which would pass the state code which was repealed. Have it ready to pass a vehicle inspection safety test at any time. - CARROLL COUNTY COMET

L IMurT These people enjoy a meal at the REAL center in the Syracuse Scout Cabin. Today (Wednesday, March 26) is National Nutrition Day.

Voice of the people A column on the opinions of the people of the Lakeland area . . .

QUESTION “How will the coming of spring change your lifestyle?"

I Khfe HH

KITTY MILLER Milford (worker at Chore-Time)

“It will make me feel good, because winter 's finally over." CAROLYN STUMP Milford (worker at Syracuse Enterprises) “We’re remodeling our kitchen and we’ll do a lot more working out in the yard.”

*

CAROL WESTERMAN Goshen (worker at Chore-Time)

“I’ll get out and walk a little more and lose some of this weight.” LAWRENCE THWAITS New Paris (salesman) “I don’t know. It’s not going to change my life style a whole lot. I enjoy it the way it is.”

Court news

COUNTY COURT The following violations have had fines assessed and paid in Kosciusko County Court, James Jarrette, judge: No registration plate — Marley Price, 27, Leesburg, $35 Speeding — Nancy Glassley, 19, Syracuse, $62; James Harris, 33, North Webster, $35; James Lemmon, 32, North Webster, S4O Failure to yield — Guy Fisher, 93, Milford, $35 GOSHEN CITY COURT The following violations were assessed fines in Goshen City Court: Operating in violation of license restrictions — Juanita I. Miller, 33, Syracuse, dismissed Speeding — Randy A. Wheeler, 20, Syracuse, s4l Disregarded automatic signal — Jerry L. Dean, 22, Syracuse, $36 Driving while intoxicated — Larry K. Elliott, 35, North Webster, $56, 30 days in jail suspended, one year probationary operator’s license, ordered to attend A A meetings for three months MARRIAGE LICENSES The following couples have filed for a marriage license in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk, JeanMessmore: White-Burht Rex Anthony White, 23, P.O. Box 159 North Webster and Jane Ellen Burht, r 2 box 167 Milford Hathaway-Drumm Ray W. Hathaway, 22, r 1 box 347 Warsaw and Teresa Jane Drumm, 20, r 2 Syracuse Freeman-Yates Jon Eric Freeman, 20, r 1 Leesburg and Lorraine Yates, 18, r 2 Claypool

lurahoover Milford (teacher) ’ “I’m a teacher and it means we can get out more often on the playground for recess and that’s good for the kids. But more important it means the beginning of marble season — marbles and jumpropes!”

v 1 F

JUDY BACHTEL Syracuse (clerk)

“I’ll be more athletic, lose some weight, able to get outdoors, get a lot of exercise and wear shorts.”

L ’ S U

JULIE HENNING Syracuse (clerk)

“Buy new clothes, I’ll get my Jeep out of the shop so I’ll have some transportation. We’re going to plant a garden this year.”

Smith-Cramsie Jeffrey Austin Smith, 21, r 1 North Webster and Tracy Ann Cramsie, 21, r 1 box 175-A, Syracuse Chaney-Bryan Leßoy Eugene Chaney, 20, P.O. Box 251 North Webster and Debra Joan Bryan, 23, North Webster The following couple has applied for a marriage license in the office of Peter Sarrantos, clerk : LeCount-Odiorae Timothy A. LeCount, 23, 356 W. Randolph, Nappanee and Joyce E. Odiome, 23, r 1 box 266 x, Syracuse MARRIAGE DISSOLUTION The following couple has filed for a dissolution of marriage in circuit and superior courts: ♦ Jones — Connie Jones, r 3 Syracuse and George E. Jones, r 6 Warsaw. Married June 12,1976, the couple separated February 29, 1980. The petitioner asks that her marriage be dissolved, that the petitioner be awarded the custody of the minor child, that the respondent pay $l5O weekly for the support of the petitioner and the minor child. SUPERIOR COURT The following claims have been filed in superior court, Robert Burnerjudge: On Note State Bank of Syracuse vs Van Art Inc., Thomas and Cheryl Swartz, r 1 Syracuse. The plaintiff demands judgment be made against the defendants in the amount of $3,478.21, for the costs of the action and all other relief proper in the premises.

taniN AROUNID CUJt

A LARGE number of Kosciusko County Republicans and a few Democrats gathered at the Counting House Bank north of Warsaw from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday for the proverbial last hurrah for long-time Republican county chairman Ed D. Pratt and equally longtime Republican vice chairman N. Pauline Jordan. Actually, affable Pratt has been county chairman 10 years and Pauline vice chairman 30. years! The affair, sponsored by county elected Republican officials (and that’s a bunch!), was an appreciation reception, and attracted all state officials and a number of state candidates. It gave candidates to replace Pratt and Jordan on the county GOP central committee a chance to step forward and show their wares. These would include Jean Northenor, now in the first year of her second term as county auditor, who is a candidate for county GOP chairman to replace Pratt. An announced candidate for vice chairman is Don Hair, big and able, and statute vice president of United Telephone Co., to replace Pauline. Two newcomers asking seats on the county official family rostrum include Charles Purdum, a resident of Kanata Manayunk (Lake Wawasee), active behind the scenes in the GOP party for years and a constant and substantial contributor to that party’s coffers. Purdum is well known as former owner-manager of the Strum & Dillard Gravel Co., now Camelot Lakes located between Milford and Syracuse. Another newcomer is Barbara Eastlund, of North Webster, who acted as deputy assessor for Tippecanoe Township for about six years when her husband Gary was Township Trustee. Both Purdum and Mrs. Eastlund have worked in the GOP vineyards for years, know a lot of people in the county and appear to be qualified for these respective responsibilities within their party. At this point it appears these four are and will be uncontested for the office they seek when the election comes on Saturday, May 10, following the Tuesday. May 6 primary election. IN THE opinion of special judge Myron J. Hack, in the recent case that found in favor of Jack Mason in his development project in the Ogden Island area, he said the State of Indiana and its Department of Natural Resources “failed in its burden of proof”, adding that it would be unnecessarily burdensome and disruptive of the Masons lawful activity, resulting in serious handicap and injustice to them. The state “has not shown by a. clear and convincing level of persuasion either that there is appreciable harm or, more critically, that the relief requested will not unduly burden defendants. “It appears to the undersigned special judge that permits of the type involved here are not substantively different irom contracts of adhesion. There is no showing that the land owner has any bargaining position as to the language to be used in the form of permit, which apparently is tendered by the DNR on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. Whether it is conceded by both sides or not, it is apparent that the operative language of the permit is ambiguous; worse, in some ways it is vague. “The burden lay upon plaintiff to demonstrate that defendants departed radically from the scope of the work authorized by the permit, and to demonstrate that by clear and convincing evidence. Plaintiff has failed in that burden. The court does not reach the question of whether defendants were improperly motivated, for it does not find that defendants in fact departed from the scope of the permit issued. Strictly speaking, the court does not reach the question of balancing hardship against appreciable harm; rather, it subsumes the proposition that plaintiff determined the agreeable allowable harm in issuing the permit, thus that it is bound to that extent. Since, as noted, it has failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the permitees exceeded the authority granted to them by the

permit, the court does not and cannot find on this record that there has been any appreciable harm beyond the scope of that permitted. “Accordingly, the undersigned special judge concludes that, on the law and the evidence, plaintiff is not entitled to the relief requested.” Hr „ ** .||||| LAWRENCE THWAITS calls his 13-year-old daughter Carol, shown above, “my little darling," and it is easy to see why. Carol, an eighth grader at Fairfield High School, recently served as page in the Indiana Senate for State Senator Richard Shank of Dunlap. /Xs such, she assisted with his daily legislative duties and had the opportunity to witness the state legislative body in action. —o— OVERWEIGHT: THE only problem that’s worse after it’s settled. And: If your parents had no children, there’s a real good chancejou won’t either. WHS ATHLETIC director Carl Meditch is back at his desk this week working half days, following an operation and recovery period at the Goshen Hospital, the result of an earlier operation for a double hernia. He was in for an hour or so each day last week. The report is, he's doing well and should soon be back on a full time basis. WHAT’S THIS we hear . ~. they’re teaching women selfdefense techniques at the high school. At this rate it won’t be

ANOTHER VIEW . . .

Bv DAVID VV. ROBINSON

A question came up recently regarding how much privacy children want or need And at what ages is privacy very important or less important. For examples of privacy, when or how frequently do children close the door to their bedroom, or the bafhroom 9 The trends vary according to age groups, but do not vary much between boys and girls. Girls really are not more modest than boys! There is a tendency for children who live in big spacious homes and children who live in very small crowded homes to demand the most privacy The research I 'm aware of indent ifies that when there are families of more than five living in less than 1,600 square feet children will have greatest demands for privacy. Probably a few children in a large home are used to privacy and therefore expect it. The *many children in a small home possible feel deprived of privacy and will insist on their privacy at any chance. Those who have ‘emotionally distant" mothers, regardless of the size of their homes, tend to require more privacy. Children of warm affectionate mothers require less privacy This is true at any age level. Between the ages of two and five years some 30*per cent of boys and girls close their doors behind them, and 65 per cent close the bathroom doors The percentages take a jump for 10-13 year old children. For that age group the figures were 45 per cent for the bedroom and 95 per cent for the bathroom doors. Among the middle teenagers, aged 14-17 years, the greatest privacy is demanded. Again, boy's* and gi r ls showed no differences in these demands. About 60 per cent close their bedroom doors and virtually 100 per cent' close the bathroom doors behind them. Again, that interesting six to nine year old group showed the unusual pattern. Freud called the years between six or seven years and puberty.the latency years. In that period the child makes little progress in relation to his or her sexual growth. He referred to growth as a male or a female person, not just to physical development.

long before the men will have to take up a self-deferfse technique. NEAL ARMSTRONG was the first Moonie: KCSez. MARTY (MRS. Tom) Gerstner is seen around with her left arm in a well-autographed Plaster of Paris cast, the result of a break sustained when she had a nasty fall at her 194 North Shore Drive home on Monday, March 10. The heavy cast doesn't keep Marty from performing her duties as comptroller at the big Star-Agri plant on SR 33 on this side of Goshen. WE WERE watching but failed to see any evil deeds in these parts on the fateful Ides of March (March 15). FROM OUR “Now We’ve Heard It All” department: Big Harry Bishop justifies his avaricious appetite with this quip: “I’ve got to keep my weight up; I’m the bouncer at The Post (his new tavern at Pierceton)." —o— SOME EMPLOYEES and several patrons of Thornburg’s Drug enjoyed a piece of Grace Betes' birthday cake on Monday. Baked by fellow employee Barbara Strickler, it was adorned with four candles. Why four? Who knows? Unless it would be one candle for each decade! Grace’s birthday was Saturday March 22. -0- , A HAND WRITTEN sign in front of the counter scales in the Syracuse post office has drawn its share of ire since it was put up. It says, in effect, do not ask clerks for address information while mail is being worked. One patron who was put out by the sign was State Senator John B. Augsburger. He is moving from his Ogden Island road home to the new South Shore condominiums. and wanted to give notice of his change of address. He w as told he could not make the address change until his postal box was put up. and furthermore he was not to discuss this with clerks while they were sorting mail. Senator John mndered, “When will you be done working the mail so.I can ask a question?"

The research referred to above showed that during this period boys and girls are least inhibited, compared to their inhibitions before or after that period. They really didn't care if they were bathing, dressing or whatever: anyone can walk in! When the child is in his or her high privacy phases, the privacy they want is sexless The boy in a high phase doesn't want this privacy invaded, or at least feels ill at ease when it is invaded, by his father or brother no differently than when it is invaded by his mother or sister. The same is true for the girl. ‘ In many of our homes the boy might have to share his bedroom with his brother and the girl share her room with a sister. That poses no problem of which I am aware unless there are unusual circumstances surrounding the situation. It’s good to be patient when one child demands the room alone on occasion. As there are times when we admonish our children to share, so also there are times when we should acceed to their desires not to share

LOOKS fl / VV / /,, AWhunt/ The short-eared owl hunts on cloudy days instead of at night only, like most owls. THE 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 46567. s Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main Street, Syracuse, Indiana 46567 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: sll per year in Kosciusko , County; sl3 outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of add ress forms to The Mail-Journal, P.O. Box 188, Milford, Indiana 46542.