The Mail-Journal, Volume 18, Number 14, Milford, Kosciusko County, 22 April 1981 — Page 4
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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., April 22,1981
Editorials
The Washington Post fiasco — The fake story by a young. 26-y ear-old negro girl reporter that appeared in the prestigious Washington Post and won her the coveted Pulitzer Prize for features, only later to be returned, has put all journalists on the spot. For this whole thing to come about with The Post, one of the giants in \ journalism and the paper that brought President Richard Nixon to heel, is all the more painful. . As most everyone knows by now. the story concerned an eight year-old negro boy who was shooting heroin with the aid of his mother and her boy friend — “Jimmy’s World’’ the article was called — and had all the earmarks of authenticity. , . 4 . When Washington Mayor Manon S. Barry. Jr.. ordered police to find the boy. the reporter’s story fell apart. It turned out she had even lied about the credentials on her resume; Post editors had bought her entire story. Ail this comes at a time when editorial credibility is being questioned on all fronts The Carol Burnett-National Enquirer court battle even focused in on journalistic credibility - and editors all over the country began wringing their collective hands w f The spate of editorials castigating The Post has been ever-mounting, for a paper of this national (if not international) reputation to drag all others along with them is rending indeed. Feisty managing editor Ben Bradlee. who went after Nixon with a passion, put his tail between his legs on this one. called the Pulitzer Prize committee and said he had to return the award, for indeed it was all a fake. Then, to have The Post s 'arch-rival. The Washington-Star, break the story of the fake scoop, only added insult to injury. , r»nz> To The Post s credit' however, thev put their ongoing ombudsman Bill Green on the storv to see how it all happened, and he issued a castigating account of his own paper s shortcomings. It had the appearance of airing the whole affair in public in order that guidelines could be tightened, that at least senior editors could check news sources henceforth The Post has a long reputation of being a good, aggressive newspaper, one that goes after malfeasance and corruption in government wherever it can be found. It must be the laughing stock of the hordes it has taken to task unrelentingly j'. , ~ . . .. , ... What’s worse: The Post has taken the whole world of journalism down this long, ignominious trail with them. He 11 all have to climb back. Support summer programs This year area organizations are taking over the summer recreation programs in the Milford, Syracuse and North Webster communities with the school corporation assisting’ with SI,OOO to help pay expenses and providing the use of facilities and existing equipment. All three programs were quick to find sponsors but help will be needed in all three communities with coaches, assistants, umpires, etc. Also needed are persons who are willing to help in keeping diamonds in shape for games and monies necessary to support the games Won’t you do what you can to support the summer program in your com? munity” " -x Players killing baseball? Today's Major League baseball players are turning off baseball fans. Howmany are being soured on the game’s players, and thus the game, as of now. and how much, are questions to be answered. # But the legendary loyalty of baseball fans is being tested. If it were not for television revenue, some clubs would already be in bankruptcy — and new owners would not be so readily found for ailing or weakly-financed clubs. The players are enjoying a heyday They command the highest salaries in any sport, have three months off a year, have lavish travel expenses and a very fine retirement program — benefits available after only five years in the Majors. Yet the attitude of too many players, since they became tightly organized and are thus able to shut down the game, is not one of appreciation or cooperation but one of getting all each one can get. And the so-called superstars, like Reggie Jackson, too often behave like children, or spoiled prima donnas Fans, who in the last analysis support the game, can't understand why young ballplayers, often half educated and making $200,000 a year, want $350,000, and are prepared to strike or take militant action to get it. Fans can't understand why these youngsters today don’t have any feeling of loyalty or appreciation to their club, the game, and fans. With the best pay schedule in sports and the best working and pension conditions, today's Major Leaguers are riding for a fall in threatening to strike year after year One of these days the ow ners. who will be backed by most fans, must face and survive a strike, to establish a reasonable pay schedule, as in football. That has to come if baseball is not to recede in national popularity and also its national-pastime image Fans in any sport must admire and like the players; if that factor is lacking, the sport is certain to atrophy AWheee. . I Lawmakers after concerned law maker has arisen in the House or Senate in Washington over the years to complain about federal waste One of the programs most often ridiculed is the so-called CETA program, which doles out money to states and communities for jobs. Finally, and this was after the election of Ronald Reagan, the Labor Department, which dispenses this money, refused a boondoggle. It seems the federal government was billed $9,421 for a trip made by thirteen students from , Sarasota, Fla., to New York City. The students attended two plays and toured the theater districtl Those who organized the trip defended it as a “learning experience” for the students)
What others say — About pink°s2 bills They will look the same, feel (almost) the same, and even fit the same way into those few dispensers (such as gum and weight machines) that still generously accept pennies in this age of super inflation. But without seeking to second-guess the US Treasury, one must still ask whether the American people will quickly accept the proposed new US zinc penny, or whether the “zincies” will wind up hidden away in change drawers with those other recent government money issues — the $2 bill and the Susan B Anthony dollar. In planning a conversion to zinc pennies from the present copper pennies sometime this summer, the folks at the Treasury reckon that they’ll save SSO million annually. .. Zinc pennies were issued back in wartime and copper-short 1943. And the Treasury unsuccessfully tried to push an aluminum, yes, aluminum — penny in 1974. Meantime, one must admire the grit of the Mint, which is determined to salvage the publicly repudiated Susan B. Anthony dollar. Treasury officials say they are considering tinting the coins gold or brassish and replacing the eagle on the reverse side with a large “1” superimposed on an oak leaf cluster. Now, about those pink $2 bills... — THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
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Support your area summer recreation program I
Voice of the people A column on opinions of the people of the Lakeland area ...
QUESTION: " How would you spend a million dollars?”
bill ■ j LEEMON ■ v I Milford 1 IK*
“I believe 1 would invest it in whatever I could get the most interest out of"
ANDREA 1 / ■ HENSON 1 Milford (rierk»
Invest it in land and eventually build a house on it. ”
SANDY KORENSTRA Milford (teacher)
“I suppose the first thing would be to pay off our bills and save the rest of it. I guess ’ <
1 • , SOKU
SILAS HOWARD Milford (teacher*
“I don’t think I'll ever have it. I’d probably spent it on things I’ve always wanted - travel and spend it on the kids ”
WASHINGTON NOTES
ON FOOD PRICES A panel of expens said recently that food costs are expected to rise by 11 percent this year, gasoline prices could hit 51.50 a gallon and wage increases are likely to continue lagging behind inflation. ORDERS CUTBACKS President Reagan ordered government bureaucrats to cut back on equipment purchases and travel and instructed his Cabinet chiefs to save taxpayers’ money by not redecorating their OUKCS,
MERLIN MINER Milford “I’d spend it on myself and my wife and I'd pay off all my bills."
TERRI BRADY Syracuse (clerk)
“I guess, buy a house, buy new clothes and I’d put the rest in the bank until I could think of something else to buy.” tonlaseilesnew r 4 Syracuse < housewife) “I’d buy a new house, new car. and everything Besides that I’d give some to charity, especially the hungry children, that would be first.”
DANIEL SPL’RLING Syracuse (meat cutter)
If I’d have my way I’d retire right now and spend the rest of my life in Wyoming up in the hills, just hunting and fishing.” .
DAVID HOLLAR Mitford “If I had any more money than what I have now. I’d invest it inland.” EDWARD R. CHVPP Milford “I'd invest some of it; that’s for sure "
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taiziN AROUND CUJt
THE TALK of the town right now is the law suit filed last August by Syracuse Rubber Products against the town of Syracuse to recover cost of the old rubber company building at 500 South Huntington Street. Elkhart County’s circuit court last week ruled in favor of the rubber company, insisting the cost of SB7.SM plus 117,454 in interest be paid. To insure this, the court froie 1104.954 of the town's funds, leaving only >40.000 with which to operate current town affairs. The old rubber companybuilding was sold to the town in mid-1977 when Syracuse Rubber Products moved to its new building on South Sycamore Street. In the interim no effort has been made to retire the cost of the building, which the town board at the time of the sale considered “a bargain." and so the suit and last week's court ruling. Jim Tranter, owner of Tranter Graphics, also located on Sycamore Street, was president of the Syracuse Town Board at the time of the sale. He said the building was to be paid for out of cumulative building funds, of which the town had some >4O to >50.000 at the time, and/or through a bond issue or an FHA loan. He said the town had talked to the FHA at the time and was assured there would be “no problem.” Tranter said when he heard of the law suit, he was “puzzled and surprised.” He called the bill the town received for the building “a legitimate bill, that should have been paid.” The original amount of the contract with the rubber company was to be paid byDecember 20, 1978. Tranter noted. He called the sale “a bonafide deal entered into in good faith." “1 still think it was not a bad deal.” he noted. Asked if the building was not much too large for the town. Tranter said original town plans called for using part of the building as a communitybuilding. enabling the town to apply for a federal grant for this purpose. 808 AND June Laudeman. 156 North Shore Drive, recently home from Florida, are the proud owners of a Villa in Avon Park. Fla., in the Sebring area. REAL ESTATE activity in the area has been “quiet” to “nil”, according to a cursory survey of several realtors, none of whom spoke for attribution “We’re doing real well on lake sales." said one. “but regular real estate sales are nothing." They readily admit the cost of money is the prime deterrent to sales Right now a 30-year fixed rate hovers at 15% with a 20% down payment, or 154% with 10% down payment, plus points. Re-negotiable loan rates are a little less — around 14% with 29% down or 144% with 10% down. At this high rate of interest, who is buying the lake property that is moving, would be a natural question? One informant said the buyers are primarily professional people with money to invest Professional people, he said, find themselves with large enough income that they don’t mind paying high interest rates, consider it in fact the cost of doing business and a good tax deduction. SHORT McUORMICK is an excellent choice of the Flotilla Committee for this year’s Flotilla Commodore, for his roots in this summertime event of long standing go way hack. It goes back to the first committee meetings that germinated the Flotilla as a summer Father’s Day activity that the community could rally around. Bat McCormick wasn’t alone. Perhaps if credit could go to any two men. it would have to be the late Tom Socks, clothier in the Village, and Rolland (“Baldy”) Mills owner of the uptown dry cleaning plant. In those early years the committee — and this was a loose name for the group — met at the Pickwick Lounge, operated by Jack Wells. Others who met on a weekly basis to discuss Flotilla plans included the late Earl Money, Bob Schacht, Bob Rule, Jim McCullough, and Larry Griffith. Dale Butt, Clem Lisor,
Tom Prickett, Tiny Sohl and John Kroh. If memory doesn’t serve us well and names are left out. it is not intentional Tom Prickett recalled this week the weekly meetings for some were “an opportunity to get out of the house.” Besides the brief meetings, the evening consisted of a meal and libation. Tom remembers after each meeting, Tom Socks would conclude with. “Now what have we accomplished? " Enough of that. It only serves to state that McCormick was an early Flotilla booster. ’ and his choice as this year’s Commodore is an excellent one. JIM. HAMMAN (he’s the fellow on the five-mile-per-hour pedal power conveyance) said. “The devil struck me below the belt.” He was referring to the fact that he passed out at the Scout Cabin last Tuesday at noon just before the REAL folks were about to have their lunch. Hamman added. “Bill Pipp and his boys (the EMS crew) picked me off the scout cabin floor and loaded me up to take me to the (Goshen) hospital.” Hamman said. “There I was flat on my back when that space ship (the Columbia) landed in California, and I missed it all.” Then Hamman, who never seems to lack for words, said something about it being a wonder they can accomplish such a remarkable fete in the sky “and can’t settle things down here. ” He was born October 25.1900. is 80 years of age and is looking forward to 81 — “and many more.” POSTSCRIPT TO the above: The octogenarian now has his plane ticket for an April 23 trip to Opelika. Alabama, where he will spend about 60 days with his daughter, Audrey Williamson: THE SYRACUSE area is fortunate to have Tom and Charlene Van Hasten as new residents, as the new owners of the Haviland Mobile Manor, just
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Capitol Commentary by Governor Robert D Orr
■ Some investments pay -'anasome dwdends Sucf- -.is a.'eao, proven the case with Inctana s new legislative initiatives to ma*e tne state s good cosiness cl>--mate even betteAt my request the Gene-a Assembly this year made economic development a top priority Among Our investments win t>e increased capital n loan funds a program to tram new workers assistance with plant site development and s, ai aid to small rural communities Ab ot the above and several more incentives to c-eate jobs through economic growth were campaign commcments made by Lt Gov John Mutz ano me las- . pushed by me two q! us during tne legislative sess on just enctmg The General Assembly gave remarkable Support n passing almost every Jem m the package The dividends wJi be more companies locatmg and expanding here — expanding s economic base and creatmg more jobs ttfr Hoosiers The recent proof i mentioned was the Apni t 3 announcement by Ciaas OHG of Harse.v nkei West Germany that after a two year search >t ws.it bu>id its new North American production plant and headquarters m Columbus. Ind ana in makmg their location announcement company executives cited as determining (actors tne state s good'busmess climate and the state s new economic development programs Ciaas s the world s largest manufacturer of farm combines and harvest machinery outside North America and the company plans to produce t 000 combines per year by 1983-84 m its new Columbus facility At that production level, the firm will employ 500 to 600 Hoos>ers We are obviously pleased to have landed this hrm which was also hotly
Court news
MARRIAGE DISSOLUTION The following couples have filed for dissolutions of their marriages in Kosciusko County Circuit and Superior Courts: battler— Christine Sattler vs Earl Phillip Sattler, r 1 North Webster. The couple was married July 18, 1979, and wasjgpearated January 2,1981. Plaintnf seeks a dissolution, attorney’s fees, an equitable division and costs. Wood- Shawn E. Wood and Lavon Richard Wood, r 2 box 45 Leesburg. The couple was married July 28, 1973 and was separated April 2,1981. Plaintiff seels a dissolution, attorney’s fees, custody of and support for the couple’s three minor children, an equitable division of the property and costs..
north of town. They plan to make extensive repairs and upgrading of the park and change its name to Country Meadows. « ** This comes at a time when there is a demand for more rental properties. This is especially true in view of what is happening at the Turtle Bay Mobile Home Park. This recent move could take the pressure off the mobile home situation for the time being. HEART BY-PASS surgical patients E. L. Fosbrink. 218 South Huntington Street, and Charlie Searfoss, 14727 South County Line Road, have been on the phone to one another. offering encouragement and comparing notes on their recovery. Fosbrink. for a long time a local physician, was the first of the two to undergo the delicate but highly successful surgery, and is up to walking a mile and a half daily. Searfoss. on the other hand, is walking some but not much as yet. and doing a little “putiing" around his woodworking shop. Everyone is hoping they’ll both soon be more visible around the community. THERE'S A coffee shop boomlet being talked about in behalf of Bill Beemer offering his name for a seat on the Lakeland School Board. Nothing yet. but something to watch Beemer has shown an avid interest in school affairs as well as town affairs, and he has certain friends who don't want to count him out as a potential candidate. There's no election in sight, but in the eventuality that there is a vacancy, this is something to watch TOM RIGSBY, the stylish salesman at Wyant Chevrolet, says. “If you ever buy an outdoor rotisserie and they tell you you can cook your evening meal on it. don’t believe it.” He bought a Charm-Gio on Monday and was up until 2 a m putting all the parts together “I missed my dinner. TV. the works.” he lamented. Tom’s a bachelor and a resident of Harbourside Apartments
pursued by our neighbor states m the farm belt, It <s quick positive reinforcement of Our philosophy that emphasis' must be placed on economic development it Indiana is to weat'-er what the economic poi cies ot the previous Washington adm mstration has done to states — particularly auto-peoduc>hg states' As i mentioned earlier one of our most innovative programs >S an nOuS-tr-ai trammg fund to aMowthe state to otter job specific empipyee framing to prospective employers Also Indiana will help make specific sites more palatable to industries shopping fpr new locations Special funds are bemg created to provide access roads and sewer connections necessary for specific development-projects At our request the General Assembly also — increased tne capital- n -ts industrial Development loan Fund — Provided substantial cap tai to* th» % Rural Development Fund wn,cn wdi be used to promote economic development tn smaller communities — Broadened our a!ready-existmg property tax abatement program.available m economically disadvantaged areas i Proposed a new authority to assist tnose who want to establish family farm ope'at'ons m obtaining the capital tney need to purchase land and equipment None of these programs many of which are tied to the private sector represent the kinds of giveaways used by other states to lure industries Indiana is not interested in offering freebies because they end up being paid for by an existmg taxpayers 1 instead our idea is to give the taxpayer a break by increasing the state s economic base sufficiently to help keep taxes down
COUNTYCOURT Violations The fallowing residents of Kosciusko County have had fines assessed and have paid those fines in Kosciusko County Court, James Jarrette, judge: Cheek deception — Michele Clark, Syracuse, dismissed Speeding — James Loser, 55. Leesburg, S4O; Janet Chiddister. 39, Milford. S4O A POSTER CONTEST The U.S. Department of Agriculture is using a national poster contest to teach schoolchildren about food safety. The contest is part of the USDA’s 75th anniversarycelebration of the Federal Meat Inspection Act.