The Mail-Journal, Volume 17, Number 45, Milford, Kosciusko County, 26 November 1980 — Page 4

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

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Editorials

Thanksgiving 1980 Our American Thanksgiving dates officially from 1863 when the nation was locked in sectional struggle. Mrs. Sarah J. Hale, who had been proposing a national day of thanksgiving for decades in Boston and Philadelphia as a magazine editor, wrote to President Abraham Lincoln — who, in October of 1863, issued the first Thanksgiving Proclamation. There had been earlier thanksgiving days; some date American observance to the early settlers — who gave thanks for their food supply and the opportunity America offered. The first probably occurred in the Plymouth Colony in 1621. There have been observances in other lands, but few countries had adopted annual thanksgiving days prior to the American observance. An international thanksgiving day was held in Washington in 1909, having been conceived by the Rev. Dr. William T. Russell of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Thus, American Thanksgiving Day, this year on the 27th, is uniquely American. In 1980 it finds us still blessed with peace and plenty, though there is concern over U.S. hostages and the future. In giving thanks for our many blessings, Americans should remember there’s still much to be done in building of our country, and in preserving its freedoms, Look for a smooth transition Our American democracy is unique in the world. First, the campaign for the highest office in the land almost certainly becomes a knock down, drag out affair. It’s a toe-to-toe slugfest that brooks no quarter for the other fellow. How, finally, can these differences be bridged once the election is over? It would seem impossible. Not so. It would appear from events last week that the transition from the present Carter Administration to the incoming Reagan Administration will be a smooth, orderly one. This hasn’t always been so. In our memory, when Franklin Roosevelt took over from Herbert Hoover there was a lasting animosity that showed through even during the Inauguration Day ceremonies. This was true when Dwight Eisenhower took over from Harry Truman, 1953 and the two men rode down Pennsylvania Avenue wearing top hats but saying nary a word to each other. Truman was unforgiving for remarks Ike had made about him during the campaign. When Jimmy Carter met Ronnie Reagan last week at the White House there was none of this. Jimmy said, “Glad to see you Governor Reagan.” And Reagan said, “Thank you. I’m glad to see you.” And all seemed well. This is the way the American people like it. America is the beneficiary of this feeling of good will, even though the hurt may linger a bit. We should all be happy for the apparent smooth transition of government that will take place in January. Smart shoppers' The Christmas Season is rapidly approaching, and the smart housewife will do her shopping early and patronize the hometown merchants. Wisdom is the art of proportion. Beware of the jolly backslapper. If you have a real friend, never let him go. What others say — We can’t afford carrots That ol’ debbil money is tempting Indiana again. Federal money, with a federal string attached. Can we afford this new entanglement? Indiana’s Legislative Council voted recently to set up a committee for interim study of a creature called coastal zone management or CZM. (A legislative bill on this subject failed in the 1980 session.) CZM is a national program which presses money into the hands of the states willing to take part in the protection and development of coastline areas. It may surprise you to know that Indiana has a coastline. It’s the sandy stretch of Lake Michigan from Whiting eastward to Michiana Shores. States joining CZM have to put up 20 per cent of the cost of projects to get . the other 80 per cent in federal funds. These funds are allotted based on length of coastline and population affected. Indiana (60 miles, 750,000 persons affected) would get up to $600,000 to SBOO,OOO annually. That’s the carrot. Emerge the string. Having received CZM money for four years on the premise that it’s thinking about joining the program, Indiana wants to keep its place at the trough so it has agreed to allow a process known as “consistency review.” Industries seeking to alter or expand operations must have the appropriate permits in order to proceed. “Consistency review” means that applications from industries located in the shoreline area are now subject to double scrutiny —by the agency authorized to issue the permit and, additionally, by the agency which is running the CZM program, the State Planning Services Agency. Consider the implications of adding another layer of bureaucracy to the decision-making process in the expensive, complex and sensitive area of pollution control. Think about the potential delays in industrial expansion or installation of new processes, the resulting inflation of costs, and the possible cancellation of projects owing to sheer frustration. California, for example, refused to allow drilling of an exploratory well on a federal lease in the Santa Barbara Channel, even though the test well had been approved by the Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Cost Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency. The well didn’t meet certain criteria under the state’s coastal management program. Indiana’s consistency review is only informal at this point, pending legislation to formalize CZM and insert teeth, such as giving the State Planning Services Agency the right to deny permits as well as review them. This state’s environmental agencies have two continuing problems with personnel: (1) finding qualified technical people; (2) keeping them after they’re hired. Technical experts are needed to investigate applications for permits and to determine how the industrial activity would affect the environment. Because there is a shortage of qualified persons, the State Planning Services Agency would have to compete for such expertise, use unqualified persons to investigate the applications or base its review process on unrelated factors. The money is not even a decent tradeoff. Receiving CZM funds in the amounts cited would not adequately compensate us for giving Uncle Sam the right to dictate that we must wear suspenders with our environmental belt. Indiana has learned hard, painful lessons about the incredible cost of red tape. We should not trustingly set out along this garden path simply because it is there, knowing full well it could lead us to quicksand. Undoubtedly it would be pleasing to have such projects carried out. Certainly the results could benefit many people. It is the costs — not only the construction costs but the ultimate costs that give us pause. It is the risk to ©instate economy, and the jobs it provides, that bid up reject this carrot. — By John W. Walls, President Indiana State Chamber of Commerce

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Wendy Stutzman, four, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Stutzman, 67835 SR 13, South of Millersburg in Elkhart County, is out to catch a turkey for the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day.

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

QUESTION: Thanksgiving is tomorrow. What are you thankful for and what are you going to do to observe the day?

ESTHER SCHNEIDER North Webster ET X**'". IK “I’m having my family for Thanksgiving. I’m looking forward to seeing my two grandchildren for the first time on Thanksgiving. LURA K f| HOOVER pf V-'ll Milford jr /* (teacher) Bk II “I’m thankful I can walk again without a wheelchair or crutches and I plan to spend the day with family. I’m also thankful for wonderful fourth graders who have helped me during this time.”

Letter to the editor

Decorations for Webster

Dear Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to commend the townspeople and merchants of North Webster for their help in raising money to purchase Christmas decorations. Due to their concern for the beauty of your town, you unselfishly donated much merchandise and a large sum of money to the Christmas decoration fund. From cash donations, porceeds of an auction, etc., a total of nearly $2,500 was raised. The decorations have been chosen and will soon be delivered. In a few weeks townspeople will be able to see Marriage licenses The following couples have filed for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jean Mess more: Hoover-Nasiatka Tony R. Hoover, 22, r 1 Milford and Esther R. Nasiatka, 22, box 382 Milford Miller-Eagon Robert G. Miller, 28, 207 Huntington, Syracuse and Debra A. Eagon, 33, r 2 box 315 Syracuse Snyder-Overfelt Owens M. Snyder, 42, r 2 Syracuse and Peggy E. Overfelt, 40, r 4 Syracuse Snyder-Boyer Paul F. Snyder, 23, 107 W. Portland, Syracuse and Belinda L. Boyer, 19, 107 W. Portland, Syracuse

TERESA HENSON Milford p (factory worker) “I got a job. I’ll spend it with my in-laws." JUDY TINKEL Milford (homemaker) “I’m thankful I live in America and I’m thankful for my family whom I’ll be observing the day with.” PHILLIP RINKER ( /.Q North Webster V (merchant) ' - “Both sides of my family will be together during the day. Somehow we’ll manage celebrating with both families. It will be a very busy day. The best part is that I’ll be seeing my brother- from Florida with several relatives, from Anderson coming up.”

the decorations they have helped to purchase. There are few communities the size of North Webster that can be as proud of themselves; for raising a sum of money large enough to purchase Christmas decorations for their town. During the holiday season each one who has helped in any way with this project should be very proud of themselves. I feel each already has been touched with the Christmas spirit. The sight of the decorations will bring joy to many people during this holiday season for several years to come. Sincerely, Charles E. Parker, committee chairman 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 46547. Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main Street, Syracuse, Indiana 44567 and at additional entry offices. Subrcription: 511 per year in Kosciusko County; sl3 outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mail-Journal, P.O. Box IM, Milford, Indiana 46542. az", "xX A°\ W

tgJZIN AROUND

THIS YEAR’S holiday season will soon be upon us, as evidence all around indicates. s This Thursday is Thanksgiving, and housewives are shopping for turkeys to adorn the Thanksgiving table. A quick look at the three groceries and markets in the area indicate they anticipated a brisk sale of turkeys early this week, and they were not disappointed. Bales Market in uptown Syracuse was geared to sell “over 40” Grade A-l at a cost of around $1.09 per pound, according to market owner Darrell Bales. He has built the uptown market into a first class market by selling top line meats. According to Susie Brouwer of Klink's Market in the Village, she and her husband Jay hope to sell "over 100” turkeys they had on hand. She said regular turkeys would sell for 85e per pound, while Butterball turkeys were to go for $1.05. Forrest Coles, manager of Augsburger's Super-Valu, also in the Village, hoped to sell “between 700 and 800 turkeys.” Their sales were augmented by a program that allowed as much as $7.50 off to those who spent sls per week in their store during the 10 weeks preceding Thanksgiving. Forrest said their prices ranged from 63e per pound for toms, 68t for hens, 78e for their private label turkeys and 88c for Butterball hens and toms. From this it would appear there will be .a good manyThanksgiving tables abundantly set for the Thanksgiving celebration. — o — ONE CAN be sure there will be an abundance of Christmas trees aglitter in the area this year, also. State Road 13 and other northsouth roads are witnessing a good many trucks loaded with Christmas trees coming from forests in northern Indiana and southern Michigan. One group, on the other .hand, has gotten out of the Christmas tree business — and that group is the Syracuse Lions club. According to their sign just north of the Syracuse City Hall, they will not sell trees this year. For some 20 years the local service club has been selling trees on Thornburg’s parking lot. usually at a nominal profit, according to club president Jim Tranter. Last year the club had some 50 trees left out of 300 purchased, and this represented something of a loss to the club. The reason: Cost of trees were up last year, and then several others decided to get into the' Christmas tree business. This year the tree supplier, located northwest of Bremen, raised his price $1.50 per tree, so said Lion Tranter, which would boost the price over last year’s prices of $7, $9 and sll. “We felt that was just too much,” Tranter said, reflecting the club’s opinion. The Lions do have their fish fry, which some want to boost into a twice-a-year affair, their light bulb sale and participation in the Winter Carnival. He indicated that was sufficient to keep his roaring Lions busy. — o — HATS OFF to the SyracuseWawasee Chamber of Commerce and several of its eager members for _ getting Christmas decorations up early. Credit should go to the C-C’s executive secretary Joe Gray,

, ■ lis)r ~ W W WV w W* SORRY SYR. LIONS CLUB WILL NOT SELL XMAS TREES THIS YEAR * mill 1 if t-"" THE SIGN SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

Bill Beemer and front-end loader Joe Hughes, plus handlers Steve Butt and Danny Bill Jones. Beemer said they went into action Sunday morning and it took them a little over one hour. Hughes used his front-end loader to boost the more agile Beemer and Gray to sufficient heights to install the decorations in the uptown business area and in Wawasee Beemer said there were 18 pieces in all, and that they will defer from lighting them until the week before Christmas. — O'STEVE AND Wava Finton, 413 South Harrison Street, are thrilled to have their grandson. Cadet 2/D Steven Finton of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., spend the Thanksgiving Holidays with them. Young Steve is the son of Captain and Mrs. Patrick D. Finton of Glendale, Arizona. — o — A LARGE group of pre-school children, members of the Community Nursery School, got a real peek at the Syracuse Public Library ana how it functions last Thursday, as part of National Library Week, in both the morning and afternoon. They got a tour of the library, had a story hour and enjoyed a reel of Terry-toons cartoons. It’s never too early to teach youngsters where their local library is and how to use it. — o — SECOND DISTRICT Congressman Floyd J. Fithian’s mobile office was in front of the State Bank of Syracuse in uptown Syracuse early Monday morning, on its first leg of visits to countytowns. It was scheduled to reach most county towns before the day was out. Observers of the comings and goings of the Hoosier Democrat, who survived the recent Republican landslide, give the mobile office credit for returning the unlikely Fithian to office time after time in a district that is thought to be "solidly Republican.” S He apparently plans to continue with the mobile office concept to bring his office in the federal government home to his constituency. (Note: Another story appears elsewhere in this edition concerning the type questions that are being asked at the mobile office during this postelection period.) — o — SYRACUSE IS scheduled to have an updated shoe repair shop, if all the plans of Mike Liberti materialize. He has sold the equipment of his shop, located at 330 South Main Street, and is rapidly replacing it with more modern equipment. He boasts a booming business, citing the high cost of new shoes as the chief reason. — o — WATCHERS OF the upcoming session of the Indiana General Assembly are sure to hear more about three proposed laws involving public access to public records and proceedings proposed by the Hoosier State Press Association The laws are further protection to the public’s right to know as set out in the federal constitution’s celebrated First Amendment. Hoosier State Press Association general counsel Dick Cardwell of Indianapolis, considered an outstanding national authority on legislative matters as they pertain to the public press, was on hand last Thursday night at the Harley Hotel in Fort Wayne to detail the

IF 1 Christmas Decorations Go Up Sunday three proposed pieces of legislation to HSPA members from the northern part of the state. Franklin Schutz, publisher of The South Bend Tribune, is president of the HSPA. Counsel Cardwell spoke at length on: 1.) Public access to public records, 2.) public access to court proceedings, and 3.) public access to criminal history information. More on this later. — o — BIG THINGS are happening at the North Webster Dairy Queen. Owner Mike Kern has gone in for serving noon lunches and has built the business into a real going concern. But not without the able help of Max Fuller as cook and Phyllis Phend out front meeting the hungry customers. — o —- WE WISH we had said it first, this ode of the eternal optimist: What the mind can conceive and believe, the body can achieve. - oC. J. MOHLER is getting all set for winter, in case it proves to be another winter like 1978. His latest move is to stock his larder with the meat of two buck deer he shot in the woods behind his place south of town. He’s providing proof of his kill in the form of a Polaroid picture —for anyone who will take time to look at the picture and hear his story! -oA LITTLE over a week ago a Goshen jeweler was showing two half-carat diamonds to a lady customer when one of them came up missing. Try as he would, he couldn’t find the second diamond, even to the point of getting on his knees back of the counter in search of thesl;loogem. He went home and tried to sleep on it, but with little success. The next day he found the diamond back of the lining of a drawer. Whew! That was a close one, he seemed to be saying. —o— THE TAXPAYERS of Syracuse are getting their money’s worth from its town board president Carl Myrick. Recently he and his wife Susan were seen raking leaves around city hall. Carl perceives this as part of the job that brings him a salary of $750 per year. NOT ONE to be put upon, big John Kroh, a member of the Lakeland School Board, states, “If the teachers strike, I’m going to counter-strike.” He probably means it.