The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 37, Milford, Kosciusko County, 1 October 1980 — Page 4

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., October 1,1980

Editorials 1 j Fire prevention week, Oct. 5-11 On October 9,1871, Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern which started the Great Chicago Fire and resulted in 250 deaths and property damage of 168 million dollars. While Mrs. O’Leary and her cow are now dead and few homeowners use lanterns, the threat of accidental fire is still a major community and personal threat 109 years later. October 5 through 11 marks this year’s observance of Fire Prevention Week which has been held nationally since 1922 to focus public attention on the imV portance of fire safety. The week’s principal sponsor, The National Fire Protection Association, states that in 1978 there were 8,783 fire related fatalities and losses of over four billion dollars. Fire protection can’t be stressed too much. The fire on Tuesday morning at the Kosciusko County Courthouse is a good example. The fact an alert policeman reported the alarm probably saved that century-old building from being destroyed this week. Firemen put in many man-hours fighting the blaze. Firemen all over the nation and the county should be praised for the work they do in protecting our buildings from being totally destroyed. Picture the courthouse, for example, if the firemen hadn’t been there! Fire prevention Week is an effort to remind Americans of the terrible tragedies and losses that fires inflict and to emphasize the need for eternal vigilance according to Bill Field, Purdue University extension safety specialist. Most frequent causes of building fires are electrical, smoking and matches, heating and cooking equipment, children and matches, open flames and sparks, flammable liquids, chimneys and flues, lightning and spontaneous ignition. And, of course, there are deliberately set fires which are accounting for an increased number of serious fires. During this coming week, let’s all look around and see if our homes, apartments, businesses, schools, farms and factories are safe. Inspect all exposed wiring, don’t overload circuits. Don’t overfuse a circuit, use only extension cords heavy enough to carry required wattage to the devices being operated. If you smoke, don’t smoke when you are apt to fall asleep and never smoke in bed. Keep plenty of large, deep ashtrays handy. Keep matches, lighters and lighter fluids away from small children. Always see that a match is out before discarding it. Keep flammable materials away from the range or stove. Don’t smoke in fuel storage areas or when refueling. Shut off and allow engines to cool before refueling. Store small quantities of gasoline and other flammable fuels only in approved containers. Store solvents, paints, starter fluids, etc., in original containers in a place shielded from sun or heat sources. Help the fire department. Be prepared for fire. Instruct all family members and employees in what to do in case of fire. Equip your home, buildings and vehicles with fire extinguishers. Fire detection and alarm systems are also worthwhile investments. Marching bands Marching bands have long been enjoyed by the people of many countries; and, in the last generation, the marching band has found a new place in U.S. society at football games. Whereas there are few military parades and few ceremonial occasions at which bands give concerts these days, there are many football games each fall and at almost each contest there are one or two marching bands performing at halftime;. The mystery about these performances is why practically all of them offer pop music or fad tunes from films. The best music for a marching band, the most enjoyable and the most appropriate, is a march. John Philip Sousa, the great American march composer and conductor, wrote many good marches and there are stirring and splendid English, German, Austrian, Italian, French and other marches. With the very big bands fielded at college football games, stirring march music could be produced. The fad which enveloped marching bands in the U.S. about twenty years ago —of quick-stop film music or pop tunes should mercifully be laid to rest. What others say — One proud American who's also tired I AM A tired American. I am tired of being called the Ugly American. I am tired of having the world’s panhandlers use my country as a whipping boy 365 days a year. I AM A tired American who is weary of all the leeches who bleed Uncle Sam white and then kick him on the shins and yank his beard if the flow falters. I AM A tired American who is weary of having American embassies and information centers attacked, looted, stoned, burned and sacked by mobs under orders from dictators who preach peace and breed conflict. I AM A tired American who is tired of being lectured by Ayatollah Khomeini who never won a battle but who poses as a second Jehovah in righteousness and wisdom. I AM A tired American who is angered by the self-righteous breast-beating critics of America, at home and abroad, who set impossible goals for the United States, but never apply the same standards to the rest of the world. I AM A tired American who is weary of those in our land who say that they should have the right to determine what laws they are willing to obey. I AM A tired American, weary unto death, of having my tax dollars go to dictators who play both sides against the middle with threats of what will happen if we cut off the golden stream of dollars. I AM A tired American who is tired of supporting families who have not known any other source of income other than relief checks for three generations — not because there are no jobs but because they refuse to work. i I AM A tired American, weary of the bearded bums who tramp the picket lines and sit-ins and who prefer communism to capitalism. These are the ones who see no evil in men such as Fidel Castro but sneer at our President as a threat to peace. I AM a tired American who has lost all patience with civil rights groups who are showing propaganda movies on college campuses from coast to coast denouncing our own United States. I AM A tired American who is sickened to death by the slack-jawed bigots who wrap themselves in bed sheets in the dead of night and roam the countryside looking for innocent victims. I AM A tired American who dislikes clergymen who have made a career out of integration causes yet send their children to private schools. I AM A tired American who resents those who try to peddle the belief in our schools and colleges that capitalism is a dirty word and that the free enterprise system and private initiative are only synonyms for greed — who say they hate capitalism but they are always at the head of the line demanding their share of the American way of life. I AM A tired American who is angry at the young people who oppose draft registration and being drafted into the armed forces of our great nation. How else can the United States remain a great nation? Sometimes I think their slogan is: Better Red than dead. I AM A tired American who is sick and tired of those who use our youth to fill their pockets with dirty money from the sale and use of drugs. I AM A tired American who gets lumps in his throat when he hears “The Star-Spangled Banner” and who holds back tears when he hears those chilling high notes of the brassy trumpet when Old Glory reaches the top of the flagpole. I AM A tired American who daily thanks a merciful Lord that he was lucky to be born an American citizen and a party of ONE NATION UNDER GOD, WITH MERCY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. YES, I AM A TIRED AMERICAN - BUT A PROUD AMERICAN! - By ANTHONY L. MILNAR, Allen County Times

El* i I rM October 5-12 is Fire Protection Week. Above Syracuse Brownies visit the fire station and get a close look at a fire truck. ■ - —

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

QUESTION: "National Fire Prevention Week is upon us. If you could talk to a fireman what would you say to him?"

PAT Milford (homemaker) “We have an excellent fire department.” Bk Z >V DIANE f stump fin Milford JSr (material handler) “I think we have a pretty good fire department. I would ask where’s the safest place to put a water heater?’ JEANETTE ROE f r 2 Syracuse C JU “Keep up the good work.”

Mi

Third parties | in the United States have rarely captured the public's allegiance or pospd a serious threat to secure the Presidency. Rather, they have traditionally been vehicles for the articulation of political views which depart from the Republican and Democrat party line. I The of Presidential aspirant. Jonn Anderson, like other third party candidates of bygone days, is based on specific issues of public concern. The chance of him being elected the next President of the United States is slim. The significance of his bid, however. lies in his impact on the electoral college vote totals and his influence on the dialogue of the major party candidates. Compare the most significant third party effort in recent history— that of George Wallace in 1968. The Southern strength of the Alabama Governor (he won five Southern states) significantly heated up the Nixon-Humphrey race. The two major parties would have preferred to ignore Wallace and his American Independent Party, but he threatened to win enough states to tilt the electoral college vote balance. The prospect of such potent leverage forced the two major parties to recognize the scrappy Alabamian as he hammered away on the “law and order” issue until it became the central focus of the entire campaign. When the dust had settled in that Presidential race, Wallace tallied 13 percent of the popular vote and 45 electoral votes. The electoral college vote had Nixon with 287 votes, Humphrey winning 166 votes and Wallace with 45.

Nixon’s early lead in the polls had been prefer? BE SURE TO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4.

You thought inflation was bad?

If you thought inflation in the U.S. was bad last year, listen to this: The International Labor Organization reports Argentina had the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of inflation in the world in 1979 with a rate of 140 per cent.

- Syracuse and W Fort Wavne mm fln “People are too careless with cigarettes. I heard the courthouse fire was from a wastebasket. More fires are from cigarettes than anything else. ’ ’ BL** O EDITH HRM WCOLPETZER HL JL.k Be Greenhaus Apt. WK JF 33 Syracuse “They do good work. They’ve been to Greenhaus apartments when there wasn’t even a fire. They respond real quick. For a small town they’re good at it.” ERNESTO SALINAS Milford (laborer) “They’re doing a good job.”

Third Party Politics In A Two Party System By ED SIMCOX Secretary of State

gradually whittled to an Election Day plurality of just one fourth of one percent ... a squeaker by any standards. In the popular vote. Nixon gained 43 7 percent of the total which gave him the razor thin victory margin. Some say Wallace was the spoiler in 1968, insuring Nixon's victory. Currently. Candidate Anderson is claiming 17 percent of the popular vote, a higher percentage than Wallace's final total. His strategy calls for winning enough electoral votes to keep either major party candidate from capturing the magic number of 270 required for victory. If neither Reagan or Carter are able to gain the winning total, the Presidential selection would be thrown into the United States House of Representatives. Once there, each state's Congressional delegation would cast one vote. The House would continue balloting until one of the three candidates was finally elected. What if the House voting was deadlocked on Inauguration Day, January 20, 1981? The Twelfth Amendment provides for the Senate to meet and elect a new "Vice President who would act as President until a winner emerged from the House balloting. The presence of a strong third party candidate can make history in 1980. Hoosier voters can and should play a role in the outcome of the 1980 Presidential election. Three candidates for the highest office in the land certainly offer a clear choice as to philosophy and approach to government. Which one do you

The organization adds Israel, with an inflation rate of 111 per cent, finished second. Inflation in most Latin America nations averaged over 30 per cent while Asia and Africa ranged between 10 and 25 per cent. Kuwait is said to have the lowest rate of all at 4.4 per cent.

taiziN AROUND

RON ROBERTS (EDITOR'S NOTE This week's Cruzin' Around Cuse substitute columnist is Ron Roberts. For the past 12 years Roberts has been a working force behind youth programs in the Syracuse community. He Is a native of Syracuse and a graduate of Purdue University. Ron's wife, Phyllis, Is found most of the time at their store. Tom Socks Sportswear, and their three sons. Brian, David and Todd are busy farming several hundred acres of irrigated corn, competing in athletics plus many 4-H and FFA activities throughout the state and notion. Roberts is also a regional salesmanager for an irrigation firm out of Grand Island. Neb., covering 19 northeastern states and part of Canada. Ron is a past president of the Lakeland Youth Center and the Wowosee Kiwanis Club It might be noted that during Ron's Presidency the Wowosee Kiwanis Club won three state awards and the International Kiwanis Award for a single service project — the Syracuse Little League.) A GROUP of people in Syracuse deserve a big thank you from me for the great amount of time and support they have given me and their children this past summer. To the parents and the boys who played on the Syracuse Little League Travel Team. I say “Thanks” for a great season. This group of 17 boys, 10 to years old, played 25 games this past season over and above the regular 12-game schedule in which the local leagues compete. The team traveled as far south as Akron, east to Churubusco and west to Plymouth. The Syracuse team won the Land-O-Lakes League, which includes North Webster, Milford, Sidney, Pierceton, Mentone and Akron, with a 5-1 record. The Syracuse Little League Boosters sponsored a 16-team tourney which was partially a double-elimination event with 22 games being played in 10 days late in July at the Syracuse diamond. Teams from Fulton, Grissom Air Force Base, Silver Lake, Ligonier, Kimmell, Bristol, Plymouth, Wakarusa, North Liberty, LaVille, Culver, Bremen, Nappanee and Mentone participated in the tournament. The tournament was won by Plymouth with the Syracuse team being the runners-up. To make the finals the Syracuse team had to play seven games with three games being played on the last day. The team also competed in tourneys at Argos, Churubusco, the Mermaid Festival and the Plymouth Blueberry Festival. The Blueberry Festival, which was a highlite in our year, included teams from South Bend, Mishawaka and Warsaw. One of the teams from Mishawaka was the state runner-up champions in the Little League Incorporated eliminations held in Indianapolis. The Syracuse team was made up of the following boys, supported strongly by their parents who got them to the many practices and helped drive them to the many games, played this past season: Steve and Chris Yoder, David Kistler, Brad and Brett TTaviolia, Don Kaufman, Scott Yates, Rob Trolson, Rob McKibbin, Tim Manges, Mike Clodfelter, Derick Smith, Mike VanDiepenbos, Brian Rensberger, Dan O’Haver, Tom Prickett and my son, Todd Roberts. A big thank you also goes to the fellows who helped coach and instruct the team this past year: Russ Yates, Steve Yoder and Lawrence Kistler. Lawrence Kistler deserves a special “thank you” for the efforts he has given many Little Leaguers in Syracuse the past 10 years or so. Lawrence’s teams have always done well in league play and I am sure many young people in Syracuse are better citizens as the result of playing for Lawrence Kistler.

The effort and time put in by the youth, their parents and coaches for a travel team is monumental. It probably approaches 250-300 hours spread over about 12 weeks in the summer. The Syracuse Little League program has progressed very nicely from the excellent start if received in the late 1950 s and early 19605. Loren Longenbaugh was one of the early promoters, along with Doug Pilcher, who supported the league for many years. A memorial trophy has been recently donated to the league in honor of Doug Pilcher. The traveling trophy is awarded each year to the Syracuse Little League Tournament championshipteam. Another strong supporter was Bill Cutter and the entire group of Rotarians during his time. They contributed heavily toward establishing a good program for the Syracuse community. Dan Caskey ran the program for several years and was responsible for the program’s expansion from eight teams to the 22 teams we have today. Dan was a great instructor of baseball and an outstanding leader for Syracuse youth during his term. The Little League is really a big financial project. In 1979 over $30,000 was raised and spent in the program. The Wawasee Kiwanis had a big hand in helping put lights on the field, building two new fields and putting new uniforms on each of the players. Sam Fryback, Dave Shields and Dick Keim were the key men behind the financial drive to accomplish our goals in 1979. This past year, 1980, the money raised and spent will probably exceed SIO,OOO. Steve Yoder, Dan O’Haver, Doug Hahn, Chris Clodfelter and Sherry Lance have carried the brunt of the business management this past year. • All these people deserve a big “thank you” for their efforts. As the travel team goes to compete in surrounding communities, we develop a greater sense of pride in our own facilities and program. I think we can say that the Syracuse program and facilities rank with the best in the area. We can thank the people and the merchants of Syracuse for our accomplishments. However, our program is growing and we are in need of more facilities and programs. The communities that excell Syracuse’s program are those who have gained their local government’s support in promoting youth and adult summer programs. Communities like Plymouth, Goshen, Culver, Argos, Ligonier, Churubusco and Akron have taken advantage of government support, directed through their local park boards, to develop ball parks and park areas in their communities for people of all ages. It appears our new park board is attempting to take some positive steps toward an improved park program for Syracuse. I certainly hope programs and parks are developed which our local people can use for their recreation. To date, it appears, most of our recreation areas in Syracuse are being used by outsiders and visitors to our lake area. This is good as it provides needed revenue for our community. However, the local folks also have recreational needs. Syracuse needs a league for boys and girls 13-14 and a league for ages 15-18. The community is large enough to support at least two adult softball leagues. Evidence the adult support by the success of the independent basketball league being run by Wawasee High School. To expand the program to this extent, would take at least five new lighted fields and five practice fields. The only reasonable way a program like this can be developed is through the efforts of the community park board system and the funds which can be funneled into the program development through local, state and federal government funding. Our current facilities are 100 per cent in use for games each evening through the summer months. The only time fields are available for practice is during the day when the coaches must be at their regular jobs. The current youth program desperately needs three more practice fields. It is my hope that our local government and park board will soon recognize the needs that exist and take appropriate action to fulfill our ideal community needs first.

I am quickly drawing to a close my active participation in the league as a coach. My youngest son has one more year left and then I expect to retire from coaching. I do intend to help support the league and assist in the development of the above mentioned facilities and leagues for the future. —o— THE LAKELAND Youth Center has been a part of our family’s lives for several years. Phyllis and I served as directors for over five years. The youth center programs are designed to fill the voids left by the school system. Wholesome instruction and pre-junior high training programs are the basis for the new youth center. Also, there are many adult orientated programs available. President Dick Keim, Director Jill Stanley and the rest of the board members are working hard to design programs to meet the needs of all three communities. The main thrust of financial support for the youth center comes from the United Way. Special projects run by the board of directors and the children who use the center supplement the United Way contributions. These people are working hard to make the Lakeland community a better place to live. Please support the Lakeland Youth Center whenever possible. —o— ANOTHER GROUP of young people in our community and their leaders deserve much more recognition then Viey ever receive. This group Xis the Wawasee Future Farmers of America and their instructor Randy Warren. Under Mr. Warren's direction, the boys and girls of the Wawasee FFA have established an outstanding record in local, district, state and national contest work. This past year nearly 50 per cent of the chapter’s members participated in one or more state or national level contests. To be able to compete on a state or national level, you must win your local and district contest, which the Wawasee FFA has done with great regularity. To be a winner, in FFA work, requires an unselfish, highly devoted leader and a great amount of home study and organized practice time on the part of the students. Mr.' Warren spends typically two hours each evening after school and many times two-three hours after dinner working with students so they can be winners at contest time. When the contests come they are usually held on Saturdays. This means Mr. Warren and his students must usually leave around 5:30-6 a.m. on a Saturday morning to make it to a contest held somewhere in the central part of the state. They usually expect to return home by sp.m. that evening. This type of schedule is typical for the Wawasee FFA grbup on at least 75 per cent of the Saturdays during the school year. Asin any contest or event, it takes a lot of work to smell the scent of victory. Thanks to Randy Warren, a large number of youth in the Lakeland Community are smelling the scents of victory, a factor so essential to the successful development of youth in our community for the future. —o— IN CLOSING, I would like to say thank you again to all who have supported me and my projects in the past. Your continued support is needed in the future. A couple of closing thoughts — “Be careful to criticize anyone until you step into their shoes” and “If you see a potential problem or have a complaint, correct it first with positive action on your part and talk about it later. ”

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. Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main Street, Syracuse, Indiana 46567 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: Sil per year in Kosciusko County; SI3 outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of add ress forms to The Mail-Journal, P.O. Box 188, Milford, Indiana 46542. wj