The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 42, Milford, Kosciusko County, 5 November 1980 — Page 5
taiziN AROUND CU£‘
(Continued from page 4) could have been further from the truth. It was Ronnie Reagan all the way. It's time to close ranks and get behind him as our Presidentelect. In the final analysis we're Americans first, partisans next.
Letters to the editor
Seek signals, arms
(EDITORS NOTE The following letter was sent to M K Fox. division superintendent, 231 W Baker Street. Fort Wayne. Ind 46802 by Lakeland School Corporation Business Manager George W. Gilbert. It notes the problems with the railroad crossings in Milford and requests signals at two crossings in the town ) Dear Mr. Fox: As Business Manager for Lakeland Community Schools, 1 would like to make you aware of a situation that I feel justifiably deserves your attention. Milford. Indiana is one of three communities in the Lakeland Community School Corporation. There are two schools located in the town, an elementary and a junior high school. All of the Milford high school students are transported about six miles to Wawasee High School in Syracuse. There are also many occasions, athletic contests, fan buses, music programs, etc. that require all grade levels from the Milford area to be transported to and from Syracuse, Our school buses must cross the railroad 21 times on an average school day transporting approximately 1.000 children. This number is increased when fan buses etc. are utilized. As a
An alternative to nuclear war
Dear Editor: Why must we be deluged with nuclear propaganda? It is not patriotism, because there is no loyalty in starting a war that will kijl or cripple upwards of 30,000,000 of our own citizens in the first few days! Neither is this national security. There is no security in anything nuclear! Ask our 470,000 soldiers and citizens who were exposed to radiation on the solemn promise of officers and high officials that jt would do no harm. Ask their families about deformities, cancer and leukemia and other illnesses that appear many years later — with
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J —J • 2’/> YEAR INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE I x SSOO Minimum Deposit — | \ Rotes Quoted Bi-Weekly I 7 s - This Month's R0te—11.75% QQ I (I* Compounded Quarterly. Th® Effective Annual Yield Will Be 12.28%) | * Money Market Certificates — 4L/\ Z< Rates Quoted Weekly b ■ 182 Days — SIO,OOO Minimum Deposit ■ This Week's Rate—13.519% I Certificates Os Deposit Withdrawn B Before Maturity Will Be Subject GEI * To A Substantial Interest Penalty —J MJ I I 3£!s’A %On Christmas Clubs... Compounded Daily! I S> ■ Saving for Christmas is easier than ever. Just sign up for automatic transO I fer from checking to Christmas Club with your ALL ACCOUNT. No more sloshJ 2 ™ ■ ing to the bank in bad weather to update your coupon book — and your OB </> | Christmas fund is earning 5’A % interest, compounded daily! 5 " I The coupon book is available for those who prefer it or who are not yet a ■ O I part of our ALL ACCOUNT family. I “-L I Uptown * Village * Hatchery I LJ U state bank of Each depositor nsurod 00,000 I M e —J 457-3165 Syracuse 856-2191 Fed...! O.pos. Cor
A SIDELIGHT: Kosciusko County ballots had a misspelling on it — KOSCIUSKO was spelled KOSIUSKO. V ANOTHER ASIDE: A friend told us, “Boy, am 1 lucky! 1 sold my Billy Beer stock before midnight last night!”
school corporation w? are obviously concerned about the safety of our students. We feel from past experience the railroad crossings at County Road 1250 N (Syracuse-Milford Rd.) and the crossing in the center of town (Catherine Street) should both be equipped with crossing arms. The signal presently located at 1250 N has not been reliable and should be replaced. I am sure you are aware of the weather conditions in the lakes region. We have a lot of fog and many times when the days get short the light is very poor. Having dependable signals with crossing arms in the two locations specified would certainly make all of us feel a little better about the safety of our students being transported by school buses. I am available to discuss any questions you might have regarding this matter. I would like to add that we are appreciative of the work recently completed in Milford at the Catherine and 4th Street crossings. Sincerely, George W. Gilbert Business Manager
almost no help or cure available. The M-X missile system proposal — the greatest hoax of all — will bankrupt the U.S. economy and the living ecology for all in Utah and Nevada, spreading into the surrounding states. It gives no concern to uprooted citizens. It is not progress, because it will leave the survivors (after the holocust) living (?) on lower levels than the caveman of prehistoric times! Radiation will kill or deform human and animal life. Plants, will take ages (if ever) to again serve the needs of mankind! So, the only winners must be
Article by LCTA tells 'teachers' side' of story
(EDITORS NOTE The following account dealing with the heated salary and benefits negotiations between teachers and administrators of the Lakeland Community School Corporation was
the makers of the war materials! Their millions of blood-money will be short-lived. Radiation will cover the earth! There will be no hiding place! Our war budget costs each of us over $700.00 yearly! For what reward? Security? To boost inflation? (That is assured!) To give more jobs? The same dollars would go many times farther in civilian jobs, national security, public health and world peace when spent for life’s needs. U.S.S.R. cannot be our threat fqr the forseeable future. She is having deep internal problems with her lowered economy, poor crops and a serious threat from China. The Polish labor crisis was handled very delicately for fear of its spreading. Analysts predict it will be years before Russia can return to normalcy. Remember, we live downwind from our nearest nuclear plant that has been shutdown repeatedly for “leaks’’ and other “harmless” causes! Millions spent for human needs, both here and abroad, will go much farther towards world peace and security than trillions for the nuclear gods! You can help. Vote for those opposed to nuclear war and nuclear power. Share your views with your politicians — local, state and national. They are home now. George D. Weybright An idea! Dear Sir: I have noticed while driving through Indiana that some unprotected railroad crossings have red octagonal STOP signs on each side of the tracks. Perhaps such signs would make county road crossings around Syracuse less hazardous. Mrs. Joan Guyton Syracuse God sells us all things at the price of labor. -Leonardo da Vinci.
submitted to The Moil-Journal this week for publication by the Lakeland Community Teachers' Association. We ore re-printing it in toto in the interest of giving both sides of the issue a public platform ) Because of various misconceptions, non-truths and a lack of information which seems to be confusing the public, the Lakeland teachers want all to know the facts concerning the present negotiations situation in the Lakeland Community School Corporation. A. The Lakeland Teachers are asking for a raise. They are also asking for increased insurance benefits and professional language changes in the contract. The teachers, like everyone else, have been hit hard by the economic situation during the last few years. The Indiana State Legislature allocated additional funds earmarked for teacher raises last year and it is this additional money plus the money already available to this corporation that has precipitated the raise request. B. The Lakeland Teachers realize that even with the tremendous importance of America’s Education they will never be paid on the same scale as comparable professionals in the business field. Therefore, they are not asking for comparable wages. However, teachers are still professionals, and they are asking for wages and benefits they are entitled to by the importance of their job and that, like everyone else, they need because of the current economic situation. C. It is well known that the Lakeland Area and Kosciusko County are among the highest cost of living areas in Indiana. D. The Lakeland Community School Corporation does have and has had the money necessary to fund teacher raises. Lakeland Community ranks 50th out of 302 corporations in assessed valuation or the amount of money available for its operation. This corporation is not and will never be poor. The tax rate has been lowered and the corporation has still gained in revenues because of the high assessed valuation. Consider this comparison: Lakeland Community ranks 50th in money available; the Lakeland administrators and certified nonteaching personnel rank 47th; Lakeland teachers rank 77th; and the potential earning for a career teacher ranks 142nd. 1 E. The following information shows the Lakeland Community School Corporation carrying forth a cash balance or “profit” at the end of each of the preceding years: 2 1976- — Ended the year with a cash balance of $268,294 1977- — Ended the year with a cash balance of $251,829 1978- — Ended the year with a cash balance of $248,787 1979- (As of July 1980 the cash balance was $354,932 — this balance was not mentioned to the fact-finder by the administration) This corporation has carried forth a quarter of a million dollars each year for “an-
ticipated and non-anticipated expenses” denying both the student and the teacher the necessary materials and salary. Money is and always has been available. F. The percentage the teachers are asking for is a simple cost of living increase plus five per cent. The money is available; the insurance benefits are available; the professional language changes that cost nothing are available — all without creating deficit spending; without denying administrators and non-teaching personnel their raises and all without raising your taxes. G. Teacher salaries come from a separate fund and are separated completely from the cumulative building fund and tax money that goes into new buildings. H. The public has been misinformed by the administration in the fact-finding hearing and in the press. It is • virtually impossible for the Lakeland Ad-
This chart is a copy of the information Mr. Gilbert sent the FactFinder as an example of how we compare with area corporations on a school year basis at the Board’s proposal of around 8%. The chart that appeared in The Mail-Journal October 22 was not accurate as it was not “blended" to compare a calendar year with a school year salary scale. COMPARISON OF 1979-80 SCHOOL YEAR SALARIES 8.5. MINIMUM M.S. MINIMUM M.S. MAXIMUM YRS. SCHOOL Amount Rank* Amount Rank* Amount Rank* TO MAX. W. Noble 10,432 98 11,435 54 ’ 18,405 130 21 Whitko 10,490 140 11,120 140 5 18,480 123 18 Warsaw 10,450 149 , 11,550 35.5 18,250 172.5 21 W. View 10,400 171 11,050 154 18.070 192 18 Fairfield 10,370 185 10,845 214.5 17,925 211 19 Wa Nee 10,355 194 10,435 242 19,205 78 18 Goshen 10,350 194 11,333 85 19,717 42 18 C Noble 10,318 203 10,915 184 17,494 234 21 Lakeland 10,227 227 10,901 188 18,428 129 22 • Out of 302 school corporations.
Wildlife Field Notes ...from a wildlife biologist’s notebook NEST BOXES FOR SONGBIRDS Some songbirds depend upon tree holes and other natural cavities for nest sites. Where habitat alteration or destruction has reduced the type of vegetation that provides nesting places, people can help by building and installing bird nest boxes. Some common cavity nesting birds include bluebirds, . chickadees, titmice, wrens, purple [ J ! I ' ' martins, flickers, downy i «■ ' '’"p woodpeckers, and red headed woodpeckers. / T! f IB '■ A standard nest box design is ! ,■ | shown here. Wood is the best • j ■ il material to use Dimensions vary Wl 1 ' with the size of the bird you're I 1 interested in attracting A ! w ■ ' removable top makes cleaning fil 1 ' ; easier A perch is not necessary ? I ’ For a finish, natural weathering or I? : ' stains are more satisfactory than J il i paint. : u Ii I' ' ■■ ■ . For specific instructions, | I dimensions, and placement, check * j fliMjyl any recent book on attracting ' birds, or contact your local wildlife biologist or bird club. . Prepared by Fred H. Montague Jr. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. Purdue University
ministration to create a deficit spending situation in a corporation that has been carrying forth a quarter of a million in excess each year. It is unfortunate that the current cash balance was not mentioned by the administration to the fact-finder at the hearing. It is equally unfortunate that Lakeland teachers have been threatened with a reduction-in-force because of a lack of money when, in fact, there is more money available now than ever before. I. A correct version of the salary comparison chart used in a previous Mail-Journal article is listed below. This version is “blended” to accurately compare the Lakeland Calendar Year schedule with the area school year schedules. The corrected version below is a copy of the schedule Mr. Gilbert was requested to send to the factfinder after giving an inaccurate comparison at the hearing. The Lakeland teachers are professionals with professional degrees and shouldered with the most important job in America — teaching the youth of great land. The teachers ' are only asking for what is fair and just considering the ability of the school corporation to pay and the current economic condition. Source of Information 1 Farm Bureau Statistical Report 197980; 2 DPI form number nine.
Wed., November 5,1980 —THE MAIL-JOURNAL
i & & fii § V I/ T srlMi
LIONS DONATION — Paul Reith, left, of the Milford Lions >;! Club presents a check for $2,300 for the Milford Community •!; X Building to Karl Keiper, right, of the Milford Area Development ;$ Council, and John Perry, center, of the Milford Emergency !•'.• $ Medical Services. The dry walls go up Saturday, Nov. 8, said Keiper, and lots ;$ of volunteers are needed to help. (Photo by Terri Chilcote)
Gun safety rules urged for hunting
The tall hunting season is at hand once again. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are taking to the fields and woods this fall in search of game. The American Medical Association reminds hunters once again that guns can kill. The paramount safety rule tor the hunter is a simple one — before you pull the trigger, know what you’re firing at. Sporting arms, from a single-shot .22 calibre rifle to a heavy big game weapon to a fast-shooting automatic scattergun. are designed to kill birds and aniptals. They also can kill oc wound humans Each fall some hunters return from tall outings via hearse. Others return with a load of bird shot or a rifle bullet to be dug out. Behind almost every hunting accident is one cause: carelessness. The hunter w ho blazes away at everything that moves runs a big risk of bagging a fellow hunter Never cross over or through a fence or climb a tree with a loaded gun. It might tall and discharge. Un-
v T HBX ■! ■■■ X, • v *wß I f Mli IMWm» nt 4 i JEoM "SERVICE Comes First With Us" I'm Sharon Gilbert, circulation manager of The Mail-Journal. It's my job to see that your copy of The Mail-Journal arrives on time. / When you need to change your address or miss a copy of your paper, call me. 658-4111 Remember, service comes first with us. The Mail-Journal Milford Syracuse 206 S. Main 103 E. Mdin Phone 658-4111 phone 457-3666
load first and reload after crossing. Don’t shoot at a hard, flat surface Ricocheting bullets can carry long distances with killing power. Keep guns away from children Never leave a weapon unattended without unloading it. Store guns and ammunition beyond reach of youngsters, preferably under lock and key. Al way s carry a gun so that you can control the direction of the muzzle even if you stumble. Keep the safety catch on until ready to shoot. Always be sure the barrel is clear. A barrel clogged with mud or snow may burst. Guns and alcohol don’t mix. If you like a nip around camp, wait until you're through hunting for the day and all weapons are unloaded and cased. Even a small-bore rifle has considerable range. Know where your bullet will stop before pulling the trigger. Treat guns with respect at all times They may be loaded, despite all precautions. Thus never point a weapon at something unless you plan to shoot it.
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