The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 38, Milford, Kosciusko County, 8 October 1980 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL— Wed., October 8,1980

4

Editorials 4-H week * Using the theme, “Expanding Horizons,’’ more than five million 4-H’ers in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam, are observing National 4-H Week, October 5-11. Throughout the week, members of the nation’s largest out-of-school educational youth organization are taking part in special activities that focus on the values of 4-H. The theme challenges members to seek new knowledge, acquire life skills and build on personal strength. Members are encouraged to strengthen their citizenship and leadership abilities and to assume positive roles in a free democratic society. Members of 4-H clubs learn-by-doing, becoming involved in a variety of practical, real life activities, ranging from agriculture to wood science. Programs vary according to youth needs and community resources. For example, 4-H’ers in the Lakeland area are involved in aerospace, agricultural production, beef, bicycle, citizenship, climatology, clothing, commodity marketing, communications, conservation of natural resources, consumer education, cooking, creative crafts, dairy, dog care and training, ecology, electric energy, entomology, food and nutrition, forestry, gardening, health, historic preservation, home environment, home management, horse, international exchanges, music, petroleum power, photography, poultry, public speaking, safety, sheep, swine, veterinary science and wood science. During the past 10 years, total 4-H participation of urban youth has tripled. However, 4-H is still serving a large percentage of farm and rural youth. Today, 23 per cent of 4-H members nationwide live in suburb or cities of more than 50,000 population, compared with 19 per cent who live on the farms. Forty per cent reside in small towns or open country and 18 per cent live in towns and cities of 10,000-50,000. Four-H is the youth education program of the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the land-grant universities. October, 1980 The fields are harvested and bare And winter whistles through the Square October dresses in flame and gold like a woman afraid of growing old —Anne Lawler ' October is filled with interesting dates, and is the birthday month of six Presidents. It is also the month in which many state days are observed, or have been in the past — Missouri Day on the Ist, Oklahoma Historical Day on the 10th, University of North Carolina Day on the 12th (and Farmers’ Day in Florida), Alaska Day on the 18th, Yorktown Day on the 19th, Pennsylvania Day on the 24th and Admission Day in Nevada on the 31st. Presidents born in October include Jimmy (James Earl) Carter, the 39th, was born in Plains Georgia, on the Ist in 1924; Rutherford Hayes, the 19th born in Delaware, Ohio, on the 4th in 1822; Chester Arthur, 21st, born in Fairfield, Vermont, on the sth in 1830; Dwight Eisenhower, 34th, born at Denison, Texas, on the 14th in 1890; John Adams, 2nd, born in Braintree, Massachusetts, on the 30th in 1735; Theodore Roosevelt, 26th, born in New York City on the 27th in 1858. Interestingly, October is the month in which both Leif Ericsson and Columbus sailed to the New World. While Columbus’ voyage actually opened up the Americas to colonialization and trade, and therefore had immense consequences. Ericsson’s voyage came about five hundred years earlier. Colorado, in 1943, became one of the first states to observe Leif Ericsson Day, on the 9th; Columbus Day, on the 12th, has become a federal holiday. Lehigh University and Dartmouth observed Founder’s Day in October, the first permanent German settlement in America was made at Germantown, Pennsylvania, on the 6th in 1683; John Clarke, a pioneer in the field of religious liberty and one of the founders of Rhode Island, was born on the Bth, in 1609 (in England). Pulaski Day, which President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed as one of memory for the Polish count who fought bravely for the colonies in the Revolution, falls on the 11th. St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most humble heroes of the Christian church, died on the 3rd in 1236. The Edict of Nantes, granting Protestants tolerance, was revoked on the 23rd in 1685, sending hundreds of thousands of Frenchmen fleeing persecution to America and elsewhere. Halloween ends the month, On the 31st. What others say — All's last hurrah ‘Ali, Ali, Ali.’ Millions of boxing fans were puling for the once-great heavyweight to come back one more time but he ran out of miracles Thursday night in Las Vegas. We get the impression that he may even have conned himself into thinking he had a chance of beating champion Larry Holmes. There were some ‘experts’ who thought he just might win the title for the fourth time, but they must have been thinking with their hearts and not their heads. Muhammed Ali pulled off a multi-million dollar con job on the sport of boxing. He picked the right sport and the right town. Both have had a few con games going before. Holmes said it best after the fight. ‘Ali fooled you again,’’ the champion laughed. “He’ll do it to you as long as you let him.” That’s just about right and Ali, who didn’t win one round in the title fight, said Friday morning that he “shall return.” He suggested that he just might take on the World Boxing Association champion Mike Weaver in his next fight. Now if anyone would sanction such a fight it would be ridiculous. If anyone would attend, it would be even worse. But why blame Ali? He looked into TV cameras more than once during the past two months and asked the viewers if they wouldn’t get into the ring for $8 million? Anyone would be willing to take a whipping for $8 million, especially if it was coming from your old buddy, an ex-sparring mate like Holmes. Holmes acknowledged he had mixed emotions about beating up on his old buddy and it sounds like the champ just fought hard enough to win every round but not damage Ali’s ‘pretty face.’ That’s about what happened. Ali got a big bonus payoff for a brilliant boxing career. Maybe he deserved it. He made boxing truly a world sport and he got the sport more media coverage than any other fighter. Lots of people didn’t like him, but they had to admire his success of staying in the spotlight and collecting big boxing payoffs. And Ali got his friend Holmes a $3 million payoff too. There were lots of doubters when 38-year-old Ali stepped into the ring Thursday night. But no one was really sure Ali couldn’t come back one more time. He had surprised fight fans for years with his smart talk and boxing style. And many fans who paid big money to attend the fight Dr pay $25 to watch it on theater TV may not have been too disappointed. They wanted to see Ali go after the title one more time. We haven’t heard the last of Ali, as his Friday morning TV interview would indicate. But we don’t need to believe his claims to fame any longer. Ali is a little like Billy Graham, they’re difficult to turn off when you start listening to them on TV. But Ali doesn’t have any miracles left and Graham talks about someone who does. The sport of boxing owes a lot to Ali. And so does Howard Cosell. Ali made him a big time sportscaster. And they’ll both be talking for a long time. — GOSHEN NEWS

Voice of the people A column on the opinions of the people of the Lakeland area ... QUESTION: How does 4-H help youngsters of today?

’lpw

• CURT CLEVENGER Syracuse (Wawasee Senior

“Because it gives them a sense of responsibility since they have to do it on their own. They also get a chance to get awards and win awards.” , KAY SORENSEN Milford (factory worker) “I was in it and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed being with my friends ” ' '■ '■ LOIS MU&SER Milford (retired )j "I think it’s good for each and everyone of them. I really do. ”

MARIE SCHAFER Milford (4-H member)

■ S

“So when they get a job they will have some experience. ”

Capitol Commentary Governor Otis R Bowen

■ The Federal Highway Trust Fund, which for a quarter-century has seemed to De an inexhaustible source of money fbr road improvements, is showing sigjns of shakiness. For the first time in 15 years the trust fund will take in less money than it disburses it is the basic source of highway aid! to state and local governments and ijts income is derived from the four-cent-a-gallon federal gasoline tax. I, The tax has not been increased since 1959 but. for years the fund kept growing because gasoline consumption continued to rise. Now that people are buying more fuel-efficient, autos and are driving them less and at lower speeds, fuel consumption is dropping. The result is fewer dollars at a time when inflation is escalating the costs of road construction and repair. There doesn't seem to be much momentum in Congress to increase gasoline taxes. However, there is an increasing awareness that it mhy no longer be possible to look at fuel as the benchmark from which we determine the extent of federal revenues to be allocated for highway construction and

Court news

COUNTYCOURT Violations The following violations have had fines assessed and paid in Kosciusko County Court, James Jarrett, judge: • Speeding — Connie K. Holzheuer, 27, North Webster, $35; Scott A. Brown, 22, Syracuse, S4O

THE MAIL-JOURNAL (USPS 325 840) Published by The Mail Journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse, Indiana 44547. Second postage paid at 103 E. Main Street, Syracuse, Indiana 44547 and at additional entry offices. Subscription? 511 per year in Kosciusko County; ST3outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of add ress forms to The Mail Journal, P.O. Box 188, Milford, Indiana 44542 WW

A J

SCOTT KARBACH North Webster (Wawasee Senior)

“When you are in 4-H you have competition and see who can do the best. You also get a chance to meet other people and make new friends. Also you meet people with the same things in common.” BETTY DAVIS r 1 Warsaw (4-H leader). “I think they learn responsibility.” EUDORA HURD Milford (school secretary) “It give them a sense of responsibility.” JOAN ALFORD Syracuse (4-H leader/substitute teacher) “Os course it really hasn't changed. They still learn a lot about leadership and responsibility as well as understanding and being patient with others. It also gives them a chance to improve their skills in almost every interest area. Very few 4H’ers ever really get into trouble.”

maintenance The real dollars now available from the trust fund are hopelessly inadequate in terms of buying power because the cost of road construction tripled in the past decade and fuel consumption is no longer on a growth curve. The issue is further complicated by the fact that the direction of highway programs is changing The completion of the interstate system was the high water mark of the highway construction era We now are moving away from construction and toward an emphasis on maintenance and rebuilding. However, federal highway aid programs are structured to favor new construction projects, rather than the rebuilding and repair projects that clearly have a higher priority at this time. Despite these far reaching developments, there is no strategy in Washington to deal with a financing problem that will intensify with the passage of time. Once again, the federal government is showing signs of being unable to shake loose from outmoded policies and a busmess-as-usual frame of mind.

No operators’ license — Sonya Streb, 33, Syracuse, $57 Improper passing — Patricia M. Hermann, 26, Syracuse, S4O Disregarding stop sign — Terry L. Busz, 22, North Webster, $35 MARRIAGE LICENSE The following couple has filed for a marriage license in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jean Messmore: Sharp-Parker Dennis M. Sharp, 41, box 278 Milford and Judy L. Parker, 32, r 1 box 115 Milford Serving our country CRAIG LUTTMAN Airman Craig W, Luttman, brother of Mike G. Luttman, r 4 Syracuse, has been assigned to Lowry Air Force Base, Colo., after completing Air Force basic training. The airman will now receive specialized instruction in the audio-visual field.

CfiJZIN AROUND QJffi"

CARL MEDITCH (EDITORS NOTE Corl Meditch's experiences in coaching over 18 years Included in this is nine years at Arsenal Tech High School in Indianapolis as head and assistant coach in basketball and baseball, four years as assisant professor of physical education and assistant basketball coach at Ball State, three years os head basketball and cross country coach os well as assistant professor of physical education at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa He graduated from DePauw University and University of lowa with advanced work at Ball State He starts his fourth year as athletic director of Wawasee J THIS COLUMN will give me an opportunity to present some facts about athletics at Wawasee High School as well as express some new points concerning the area of activity programs in general. Wherever you go and wherever y<m: may be from the subject of athletics is always on the minds and iips of almost everyone — whether it be high school, college, or pro the subject is tossed around at the corner drugstore, coffee shop, bank, restaurant, etc. The athletic program at Wawasee High School offers 18 sports, nine for girls and nine for boys. There are 19 coaches on the staff including assistants. This year there is a total of 304 scheduled contests. 10 Northern Lakes Conference tournaments and 17 sectional tournaments that our teams will participate in. Last year there were 169 girls involved in the program and 278 boys creating a total of 467 student athletes participating. Our enrollment last year was 937. This means -that over 50 per cent of our students were active in our interscholastic athletic progra m. This increasing demand creates a problem of financing the total sports program. The only source of income the athletic department relies on is its revenue from gate receipts from our sports with football and basketball supplying 90 per cent of the total income. No tax money is utilized for the program except for teacher-coach salaries and permanent facilities. The gate receipts are to recompense bus transportation expenses (teams and fans), all equipment for teams, all officials for contests all workers (teachers) that work at home contests, insurance, etc. For example, varsity basketball officials are paid S3O a game with football in the same range and with the increasing cost of gasoline this will raise in the near future. To assist in supplementing our income we use our Athletic Program, which we sell at our home football and basketball games. This supplies revenue to help pay some of the expenses for our girls’ athletic sports which is an expanding program. This program is a tremendous asset of which lam very grateful to our Lakeland School Community. Our new football coach, Myron Dickerson, is no stranger to football but is new to our Wawasee program. Here is a brief background of our new head football coach. He was born in Hammond, and attended Hammond Tech High School where he played football and baseball. Upon graduation he worked for Standard Oil until 1954 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He spent 16 months in Korea, after which he enrolled at Ball State in 1956. While at Ball State he played football and baseball. He was president of the Lettermen’s Club his senior year. After graduation from Ball State he worked for Monsanto in Ligonier where he spent six years in the engineering department. Mr. Dickerson entered the teaching field in 1967 at East Noble High School as a vocational and industrial arts teacher. He was assistant baseball and football coach at that time. The following year he was elevated to

head football coach. His varsityrecord for his last three years was 14-12-2 in the tough NEIAC Conference. He coached the summer baseball teams for two years at East Noble establishing a record of 26-8. From East Noble he went to Penn High School as an assistant football and head baseball coach. He coordinated the entire offensive units in football and his last year there his baseball team record was 21-9 with an Elkhart sectional title to his credit. Myron left Penn to take the head football coaching position at Fort Wayne North Side. While there he established a twinning tradition with his last year's team being 10-0 and ranked fifth in both polls. This past year he was selected Ball State alumni “Coach of the Year” and was selected the head coach of the North All-Star Football team which defeated the South All-Star Football team this past summer in Bloomington. He is continuing the winning tradition here at Wawasee and we are glad to have him on our team. He is serving as dean of students and will be the head baseball coach. Other coaches who have made a great impact in our girls’ program is the addition to our staff of Barb Brouwer and Terri Stevens. Barb is the head girls’ volleyball coach. She is a graduate of Adrian College in Adrian. Mich, where she majored in physical education. During her four years there, she participated in volleyball, basketball and softball. Barb received major awards in all three sports during her four years of participation. She was named to the Michigan Girls’ All-State College Basketball team while at Adrian College. She is a graduate of Wawasee High School and participated in basketball, volleyball, track and softball. She helped the relayteam win the state track title while at Wawasee. Barb will serve as assistant basketball coach and head track boach as well as volleyball coach. Terri is Wawasee’s assistant girls’ volleyball coach. She is a graduate of Adrian College in Adrian, Mich. She participated in tennis, volleyball and softball while at Adrian. She was MIAA tennis champ representing the college. Terri has taught at Okemos High School in Michigan the last three years. She has coached tennis, volleyball, softball and basketball at Okemos. She has produced winning teams in all the sports she has coached. Terri attended Talmadge High School in Talmadge, Ohio, where she played tennis, volleyball, and basketball. Her senior year, she was league tennis champ. She will be serving as assistant volleyball coach and head softball coach on our staff. Terri and Barb's hard work and determination has turned the volleyball program into a winning program. We are also looking forward to Dale Brannock sharing his skills and abilities with our girls’ basketball program. Dale has begun his conditioning program and the girls' basketball program may just have a bright future. I . . The significance of interscholastic activities within the American educational system is unique. Nowhere else in the world do school activities reach all levels of contemporary society. In most countries activities are conducted completely apart from their educational institutions. American society has come to recognize that activities, from football to debate, are an integral part of our educational system. Well-planned activities programs provide opportunities for the participants to develop such desirable traits as good citizenship, sportsmanship, cooperation and character. In essence, activities reinforce the established structure and values of our educational system. Several educational investigators have conducted studies which demonstrated that students involved in interscholastic programs find increased educational opportunities available to them as a result of their achievements in these programs. In addition, their findings indicate that students participating in activities tend to have higher grade point averages, better attendance records and fewer discipline problems than nonparticipants. In February, 1979, the National Federation of Interscholastic Athletes surveyed 14 selected school districts in seven sections of the country regarding their 1977-1978 enrollment, their total number of dropouts and the

number of dropouts who had participated in high school activities programs. Each school district contained a wide range of socioeconomic levels. Data representing 24 schools and 45,443 students was collected. The average school enrollment 0 was 1,893 students: the smallest school was 779 and the largest was 2,954. The average percentage of student dropouts was 5.5 per cent with a low of one percent (18of2,150students) and a high of 16 per cent (334 of 2,052 students). Isolating the number, of students who dropped out of school, the Federation study found that only four per cent (102 of 2,547 dropouts) were involved in activities programs. In other words 96 per cent of the dropouts in the 24 schools surveyed were not participating in high school activities programs. Seven of the 24 schools (29 per cent) reported that none of their dropouts were activities participants. This data demonstrates what I have always felt that students who are actively involved in high school activities programs do not drop out of school. Dollars spent on activities programs is moneywell spent in terms of keeping students in school. Activities programs play a vital role in making education a meaningful and well-rounded experience for students. No other school program has the ability to attract and hold so many students. The future trend in organized sports is our society’s attitude regarding the correlation of an active life to good health. This means that today’s active young person is tomorrow’s parent. These values will be transferred down. It’s part of our culture. This indicates that the thirst for some form of competitive activity will be maintained, if not enhanced, in the decades ahead Therefore, my conclusion is that the interest level will be there in the ’B(i’s. Also, there will be more of us based on all birth, life-span and immigration reports. This* will have great impact on the demand for more programs and more facilities. On the other hand, there are serious economic problems threatening the very existence of many sports and fitness programs and facilities. Os i course, the schools with pools w ill continue to have a swimming program, the schools with football stadiums will tend toward football and so forth. What 1 am inferring is a replacement facilities crisis is in our future and school boards will have a difficult dilemma. The question is: whose program will be sacrificed: whose facility will be replaced? As far as the trends in the popularity of individual sports: running versus roller skating; tennis versus racquetball; etc., I see a continual recycling of interests plus an occasional new activity that will explode on the scene and then find its niche. By recycling interests. I’m suggesting that tennis can very well be rediscovered several times before the century is out — as may happen with archery, badminton, bowling and a multitude of other activities. The development of the club, whether it be a health club, racquetball club, tennis club, running club, shooting club, or the YMCA, will continue to stimulate the post-school market. Youth sport programs moved further away from schoolsponsored programs, to park, club and league-sponsored programs during the ’7o’s. This will continue because currently school programs are not receiving the necessary funding and support. An increasing number of sport and fitness activities in the 'Bo’s will undoubtedly occur outside the realm of the school institution. Unless some new funding is found for facilities and programs for schools, a shortrange outlook will see a whole new revitalization of interest in c> school-based sports and physical education programs. We will, as a society, again come to the realization that this activity is the natural extension of the education process. The school children as well as school personnel in our Lakeland School Community should be very thankful to the community for providing the support, interest and facilities so that we may totally educate our youth today. One needs only to walk through our facilities during the day to see the programs in action — to realize the real value of an excellent facility. As athletic director I would like to say in closing that I appreciate the opportunity to be in this position and to thank all the community for supporting athletics - the other half of education.