The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 13, Milford, Kosciusko County, 16 April 1980 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., April 16,1980

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Editorials

National Library Week Governor Otis R. Bowen has signed a proclamation making Indiana part of National Library Week. The three libraries in the Lakeland area — Milford, North Webster and Syracuse — are joining in the celebration as are the learning resource centers in the Lakeland schools. Librarians and volunteer workers in all of these facilities should be commended for the work they do. Libraries are one of the state’s most valuable resources, providing information, education and enjoyment to nearly every Indiana resident. Bowen’s proclamation continues by stating the libraries serving Indiana — public,, school, special, academic and corporate — contribute to the state s growth and vitality. We join the governor in saluting the libraries and the services they provide. Douglas G. Pilcher The death Monday night at the Elkhart Hospital of Douglas G. Pilcher caught the Syracuse business community by surprise. At age 61, and following difficult open heart surgery some time ago, he seemed well on the mend. It would appear he had a good, long life ahead of him. Doug was a longtime uptown business man — perhaps one of the oldest in terms of being in business in the same location. He operated his store alone for a good many years, and dabbled in rare coins on the side. At some point he decided to give up coins and go into the retail shoe business with a fury. He enlarged his small store when the legal office to his north decided to relocate. From that point his business career seemed to be all uphill. He advertised widely and brought customers to Syracuse to purchase shoes of unusual sizes from a radius of 100 miles. He was proud of that. Doug was all for Syracuse, no doubt about that, even when he stood alone. He practically stood alone in his desire to see uptown parking meters retained. Right or wrong, he was a man of conviction, and one who was respected. It is our hope that his good wife, Goldie, who worked in the shoe store beside Doug, can gather around her members of her family, Steve Butt, and other faithful workers in the store and continue this much-needed retail business in the community. Pilcher started in business in the old Pickwick Block. He will be remembered as one of the founders of the Little League program in Syracuse and promoted the sport of bowling in the Lakeland community.

What others say —

The windfall-profits fax

The oil companies and the oil-state senators kicked and screamed all the way through the year-long battle to enact a windfall profits tax on decontrolled domestic oil. But the final plan approved by Congress a few days ago won’t exactly bring the oil industry to its knees or turn the oil states of the Southwest into a dustbowl. Even with the tax, which will claim from 30 to 70 per cent of the additional profits, the oil industry can expect an additional $1 trillion due to decontrol during the next decade. And the major oil-producing states, whose salons battled even against the less-stringent windfall tax plan passed by the Senate late last year, can expect $l2B billion in extra tax revenues from decontrol between now and 1990. Texas alone may receive $33.2 billion. With such profits and state tax revenues anticipated, it would seem the $227 billion windfall tax to be collected by the federal government during the next decade is far too low, even if there was a credible guarantee from the industry that the remainder of its huge decontrol profits will be plowed back into exploration for new oil. The $227 billion figure was arrived at in House-Senate conference — conferees simply split the difference between the even weaker Senate plan which would have raised $l7B billion, and the House’s $277 billion plan. The final bill could have been more satisfactory had the House conferees been bargaining with the much-tougher plan that cjime out of the House Ways and Means Committee last summer. But that plan was replaced by a proposal drafted by two oil-state representatives. (Rep. Dan Quayle, who recently pumped gas at a Fort Wayne service station to demonstrate his concern for beleaguered motorists, demonstrated his concern for the oil industry by backing the milder tax in last summer’s crucial vote.) But aside from the fact that the tax plan approved by Congress last week may reclaim only about a fifth of the oil industry’s decontrol windfalls, there is the problem of how Congress decided to divvy up the revenues. Since President Carter’s decontrol-and-windfall-tax idea was touted as a response to the energy crisis, it would seem only logical that the revenues from the tax would go toward encouraging energy conservation and new energy strategies, as well as helping those hardest hit by the attendant fuel price increases pay their bills. But presented with all that “free” money to dispense to its constituents, Congress was not about to plow the lion’s share of those funds back into the energy battle. Under the formula worked out by the conferees, a quarter of the revenues would be reserved for energy-cost relief to the poor and 15 per cent will be used to promote mass transit and use of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power and gasohol. But a whopping 60 per cent, $136 billion, of the revenues would be dedicated to business and personal tax cuts. And because the recommendations contained in the bill are not binding on future Congresses, the windfall-profit fund may also | become a tempting target for those who want to “balance” the federal budget without cutting their own favorite programs. Decontrol was never among the best strategies for achieving independence from foreign oil, but Congress’ failure to reclaim a decent share of the ensuing profits, coupled with its failure to earmark a decent portion of the revenues for energy programs, makes the whole scheme even less palatable. True, exploration for U.S. oil has increased dramatically during the year since Mr. Carter announced decontrol. But surely there must have been lessgenerous ways to prod the already-rich oil industry into increasing domestic production. It’s also true that the expected one-cent-per-month increase in gasoline pump prices from decontrol will not bring the truly dramatic cutbacks that could have been achieved through the 50-cent-per-gallon gas tax proposed by Rep. John Anderson or by instituting a limited rationing plan. Only a sudden, massive shock could make the still-gluttonous driving public reform. We have no doubt that those shocks are on the way, the only question is whether they will be brought about by the U.S. government, under carefully controlled conditions, or by the next crisis in the Mideast, under conditions that could make the U.S. economy collapse. But strong medicine to cure our dangerous energy situation is not in the cards. Congress and the president would prefer to spend their time on less politically offensive shell games like decontrol and the windfall profits tax. — Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette

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Mrs. Tom Socks, shown above of the Syracuse Library, is one of many patrons who visit the Lakeland libraries each week.

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

QUESTION "Wilt President Carter's proposal of a 10 cent import gas hike affect your driving habits?"

MIKE O'CONNELL R 1 Milford (Chore-Time)

. “Oh yeah, I’ll just drive less. I won’t be able to afford not to. People will stop to think if they have to go some place or not. I think it will work.”

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JEAN ROGERS Syracuse (merchant)

“Not really. Why? Because we don’t do that much driving. I noticed a sign in Goshen recently which said Carter’s accomplishments have been inflation, recession and 20 per cent interest rate.”

Two charged after hit-skip in Warsaw An auto driven by Cheryl B. Fifer, 36, r 2 Leesburg, was involved in a three-car collision, Friday, April 11, at 2:14 p.m. The mishap was on East Center St., and South Park Ave., Warsaw. Fifer’s auto was struck on the left side by Anthony E. Hyden. 28. 209 South Union St., Warsaw, after his auto went across the intersection and was hit in the right rear fender by an auto operated by Barbara J. Morrison, 25, r 7 Warsaw. Fifer was stopped on Park Ave., headed north. Following the accident Hyden’s auto went into the lawn of a service station and on into an alley. He turned his vehicle around and headed east, according to Warsaw city police. Hyden’s vehicle was found a *hort time later by City Patrolman L. Walter Knox. The auto was driven back to the scene and the debris matched the damage caused from the mishap, according to City Police Sgt. John Lehman. Hyden later admitted leaving the scene. The Hyden vehicle was purchased from Claude H. McKenny, r 7 Green Acres Trailer Court, Warsaw, at about 1 p.m. that day and Hyden was driving his newly bought auto when the accident occurred. The license plates on the auto belonged to McKinney, while he knew the car belonged to Hyden. Damage from the accident was set at $425 to Fifer’s auto, $325 to Morrison’s auto and $125 to Hyden’s car. Hyden was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident, failure to yield the right-of-way and having false or fictitious registration. McKinney was charged with permitting a violation.

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CAROL KEIPER r 1 Milford (substitute teacher)

“I don’t think it will affect it much. We don't drive to the mall as much as we use toand we don’t take those little jaunts for entertainment.”

r elly I GRAFF 212 S. Harrison «£s■■■ Syracuse fptSß (secretary) K * B

“No, because we don’t drive that much. We put 4,000 miles a year on the car. We live one block from where I work and one-half mile from where my husband works. I walk' to work and he drives the car. We just don’t go. places.” —,

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HENRY YODER. JR„ r 2 Nappanee (farmer)

"It’s a bunch of bull. It’s not going to help cut down the inflation. We don’t drive that much a year. I use a lot of fuel on the farm, then try and get the tax back on gasoline used for a tractor.”

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MARY ROBERTSON Leesburg (school nurse)

“Yes, I’ll think twice before running to South Bend shopping and I’ll forget those Sunday afternoondrives.” 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 44567. 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. rWi otzJ ■

tfcJZIN AROUND CU£

(EDITORS NOTE This week's column was written by Philip K. Fawley, well known Syracuse resident and head of the Wawasee High School Language Arts Deportment ) IT IS quite a challenge to try to follow Margaret Freeman’s and Arch’s footsteps in the writing of this column. But let’s begin our weekly cruise around Our Town. Spring arrived last month (at least by the calendar), but where is the warm weather and sunshine we so deeply desire? Easter Day reminded us that nicer days will be coming. There are many signs, however, in Our Town that spring is here: the ice has broken on the lakes (and wasn’t it an uplifting sight on Easter to see the sun shining on our lakes — like many precious sparkling jewels?); many spring flowers arb bursting into bloom, thereby brightening our lives; there have been many people raking their yards; the grass is suddenly getting greener; the stores in the Village and downtown arc- heralding spring with clothes for warmer times, lawn and garden merchandise, and air conditioners, to mention a few; the B and K Drive-In and the Windjammer Restaurant in the Village are open; and more children are out playing. We appreciate these harbingers of spring. WE HAD a delightful visit with our dear friend Katharine Rothenberger, a former Papakeechie Lake resident, recently in Muncie at her apartment in Westminster Village. Katharine is fine and is looking forward to being in Syracuse from May 29 till July 7. We were discussing the late Dr. Margaret Mead, whose daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter w£re in Iran until fairly recently. They escaped safely, with only the clothes they had on their backs. One cherished item they regretfully had to leave behind was an afghan Dr. Mead had made for her granddaughter.

WE ARE all deeply sorry that one of Our Town’s finest citizens, Vernon Beckman, died last week. Beck was a kind, gentle, and decent man, who had a delightful sense of humor, and who always had something "good” to say about someone. We shall miss the familiar sight of his cruzin’ around ‘Cuse on his bicycle and his stopping in to return a book or just to say hello. Did you know that one of Beck’s greatest loves was singing in the choir at church? He spent nearly two-thirds of his long, fruitful life singing in church choirs on Sundays. It is ironic that he was stricken in his last illness while singing an Easter anthem. We daresay he is now singing in the choir of the Church Triumphant! We will long remember the fine example of this gentleman and the pleasure of Beck’s company. It is written in the Book of Acts, “He went about doing good: and God was with him.” RECENTLY AT the Three Flags we overheard a spirited group of people intently debating the forthcoming presidential primary, as well as the November election, with some decided disagreement as to the ultimate outcome. Already there is considerable campaigning and politicing as evidenced in all the media. Many of us say we grow weary of all this political "hot air.” But. frankly, would we not miss it if we were denied the opportunity of viewing (or of not viewing, if we choose) this information? We think it is all a vital part of the American way of life. Ideally, the successful candidates impress us with their arguments, while the unsuccessful ones do likewise. Where else but in the United States may we (candidates and electorate) express our opinions so candidly? LAST WEEK, Margaret Freeman wrote about the pleasant addition to Our Town of the Greenhaus Apartments. We take this opportunity to welcome to Syracuse Mrs. Nancy Walker, assistant bookkeeper for the Lakeland Community School Corporation, and her twin daughters, Cheryl and Carol, who are freshmen at Wawasee High School — all of whom recently moved into one of the Greenhaus Apartments. WE HAVE heard many fine comments about the beauty of the community Easter sunrise services at Calvary United Methodist Church, which was blanketed with Easter lilies. We

are grateful for the community churches' participation at this time of worship, as well as the gratifying attendance. THIS WRITER doe® a lot of his cruzin at Wawasee High School. Many of our students and some of our staff spent the spring break in Florida. On Monday, April 7, it was good to see these persons home safely, happy, rested, and sporting enviable tans after having “fun in the sun,” although some vacationers said the sun was rather sparse in some areas. Spring sports practices and interscholastic competition are underway, albeit the inclement weather has made it necessary to postpone many events. The directors of "The Sound Os Music” (to be presented April 17, 18. and 19), along with the cast members, musicians, and those who work behind the scenes, are working many, many hours to insure successful performances. We commend all these fine persons for their diligent and purposeful efforts. Laurie Brouwer, president of the senior class, committees from the class, and their faculty sponsors, are busily preparing for the closing activities of the Class of 1980: The senior prom (May 3): the senior banquet (May 10); and commencement (May 18). It is a pleasure to see these fine young men and women seriously and carefully making plans for these special and memorable events in their lives. We note, as we plan for commencement. that two of our honors graduates will be especially honored by their fathers' participation' in the May 18 graduation ceremonies: Rev. John McFarland (father of Chris McFarland), pastor of the Syracuse Church of the Brethren, will give the invocation; Rev. Paul E. Steele (father of Richard Steele), pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church, will pronounce the benediction. We sincerely think this will be a blessed event!

We appreciate the community interest and support of our schools — our schools are your schools, for without you there would be no schools. Your sons and daughters are our most priceless investments for the future. We often hear derogatory comments nationally and locally about our young adults. There are, indeed, some who have problems of immense gravity and do create havoc and chaos — BUT the overwhelming conspicuous majority are fine kids who want to do the right thing; and they succeed in doing so, in spite of pressures which are frightfully conflicting. In December, the National Honor Society sponsored the annual WAWA Penny Pitch. Do you know that our students, administrators, faculty, and staff gave over $1,600 to purchase food for 36 needy families in the communities of Milford. North Webster. and Syracuse? We think this is just one accurate "barometric” reading of the excellence of our youth. Many former WHS students who are in college have been "home” and have stopped to visit us. It was especially pleasant to have seen Jackie Glon, a freshman State, and daughter of John and Nancy Glon (who do so many thoughtful things for Our Town), recently. Jackie is enjoying her studies at BSU and says they are challenging — but we know she will meet these challenges successfully. MARGARET FREEMAN, in her assessment of Pickwick Place recently. mentioned several businesses. Quite modestly she did not mention in detail Gulliver’s Travel Agents, obviously not wanting to “toot her own horn.” We think Margaret and the other personnel at Gulliver’s deserve special praise for their kindness and efficiency in accommodating many of us in Our Town in our traveling whether it be a simple reservation from Fort Wayne to Detroit via Air Wisconsin or the more complex arrangements for a Caribbean cruise. WE ENJOYED talking with the good Dr. Fosbrink and his always vivacious wife Mary Lib just before Easter. They were on their way to see their lovely daughters, Susan and Sally, and their families. As we think of the Fosbrinks, others mentioned in this column, and those who were not mentioned, we recall with fondness that Syracuse is a great place to be. WE HAVE had some inquiries in the past few weeks about the Kosciusko County Easter Seals Society for Crippled Children and Adults, of which this writer is a board member. Who are we? What do we do?

Many of you received the annual Easter Seal letters, along with some Easter seals; the letter briefly explained this group’s typical activities. First of all, the contributions you make are used for the welfare of persons in Kosciusko County only; none of us receives any salary, although some personal expenses such as postage, mileage, and longdistance telephone calls are reimbursed, IF such expenses are "excessive' to one member. Each of the 12 board members willingly spends a lot of time on cases referred to him/her. The word crippled refers not only to orthopedic disability but also, for example, to afflictions such as cancer, neurological problems, blindness, mental illness. The Easter Seal Society operates on the basis of referral: If some person who is ill and his/her family needs financial and/or medical assistance, we do everything possible to help wheiv there is a request made, to A board member. / Although the Easter Seal Society’s financial resources are limited, we are able, fortunately, to accomplish a lot. through our referrals, in conjunction with such charitable groups as the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children, Riley Hospital, and the Leiter Fund. Anyone having ony questions should feel free to contact this writer. Our Town sends to Arch our heartfelt good wishes for a safe and quick recovery ; we hope to see him Cruzin around ’Cuse soon. Shalom!

Court news SM ALL CLAIMS The following claims have been filed in Kosciusko County Court. James Jarrett, judge: Complaint D and M Motors vs H Rico Conception. Millord. The plaintiff demands judgment against the defendant in the amount of $840.04. for the costs of the action and all other relief properjn the premises. Collection Bureau of Warsaw filed a claim against May and Margaret Mann, r 5 box 306 Syracuse. $198.32 Dan and William Stuckman. r 2 Syracuse vs William Snyder, r 2 Syracuse. The plaintiffs demand judgment against the defendant in the amount of $426.50. for the costs of the action and all other relief proper Sasso Veterinary Hospital filed a claim against. Carol Poehler, P.O. Box 19 Leesburg. $35 Wawasee Lakeside Dental Clinic filed a claim against: Joe Schrock, Syracuse. $793.05; Vernon Hostetler, r 5 Syracuse, $276.75; Jerry Scott, r 4 Syracuse. $56.20 Anderson Greenhouse filed a claim against Mrs. Ralph Caudill. Syracuse. $26.04 George Barton filed a claim against Jerry and Cynthia Hollie. r I Leesburg. $121.55 Don Rumfelt filed a claim against Bill Snyder. Syracuse. $188.22 and Sharon Joyce, r 5 ’Syracuse. $67.62 Mr. and Mrs. Terry Kirkwood vs George Susan, r 2 North Webster. The plaintiffs demand judgment against the defendant in the amount of $l5O. for the costs of the action and all other relief proper in the premises. Violations Speeding — Rodney England, 22, Milford. S4O; Vernon Slabaugh. 48, Syracuse,s3s Check deception — Bill Morton. Syracuse, $89.50 No operator’s license — Jesus Salazar, 55, Milford, $57 Disregarding traffic signal — Jesse Megething. 3?), Milford, $35 PLENARY Coinplaint Collection Bureau of Warsaw vs Maria Garza, Milford. The plaintiff demands judgment against the defendant in the amount of $1,951.08 for the costs of the action and all other relief proper. Counting House Bank filed a claim against Louis and Nora Mediano. 1013 South Sixth Street, Syracuse. $1,524.35 Summitville Bank and Trust vs Roy Clow, Syracuse. The plaintiff , demands judgment against the defendant in the amount of SSOO, for the costs of the action and all other relief proper in the premises. Foreclose In Count II the plaintiffs ask the court to pass judgment against the defendants in the amount of $32,122.16, principle sum of $27,842.68, interest from May 1, 1979 to March 25, 1980 of $3,029.48 and additional rate of $915 per day, attorney’s fees for the action and all other relief. MARRIAGE LICENSES Wilham-Adams Timothy Wayne Wilham, 21, Elkhart and Terry Lynn Adams, 18,112 High Street, Syracuse